Australia: Inglis Easter sale posts declines despite three seven-figure yearlings

Glenye Cain Oakford

The Inglis Easter yearling sale ended Thursday in Sydney, Australia, with losses across the board after selling a third million-dollar yearling.

An about $1,248,000 ($1.2 million Australian) half-brother to Australia’s two-time Horse of the Year Makybe Diva topped the final session Thursday. Trainer Peter Moody bought the Street Cry colt in the name of his Moody Racing after fending off a strong challenge from fellow trainer Gai Waterhouse.

The three-day auction sold more yearlings than last year, 330 versus 311 a year ago, but gross fell 2 percent to about $75,738,000. Average and median price also slipped, by 7 percent and 11 percent, respectively. The average price was about $229,509, and median was $166,400. there were more outs this year – 53 as compared to 34 a year ago – but buybacks decreased from the 2011 rate of 19 percent to just 17 percent.

The sale-topper sold Wednesday for about $2,680,105 ($2.6 million Australian). She is a half-sister to another champion mare, Black Caviar. BC3 Thoroughbreds picked up the Redoute’s Choice filly. The auction’s other seven-figure lot, a $1,030,000 Fastnet Rock-Catreign colt, was bought by Coolmore Stud on Tuesday.