Teofilo colt leads way as Inglis Melbourne premier yearling sale opens

Although Sunday's opening day of the Inglis Melbourne premier yearling sale posted a decline in total sales commensurate with a sizeable reduction in lots offered this year, it held fairly steady in average and median compared with last year’s first day.

Inglis reported 81 yearlings sold on Sunday, totaling approximately $6,009,000 ($5,890,500 Australian). That marked a 42 percent drop in total receipts from 2012’s total of approximately $10,407,000 from 139 hips sold, but stayed level with a 41 percent reduction in the opening day catalog.

The average price of about $74,200 dropped one percent compared with 2012, while the median of $61,200 fell 8 percent. The buy-back rate increased to 26 percent from 22 percent.

A colt by Darley stallion Teofilo topped Sunday's session, selling for about $255,000 ($250,000 Australian) to Victorian trainer Mick Kent. The bay colt is the second foal out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare San Cristobel and is from the family of several Southern Hemisphere group stakes winners, including South African champion sprinter Laisserfaire. San Cristobel’s first foal, a Henrythenavigator filly named Donna Madeira, won her career debut in Australia in January.

Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu led all buyers on the opening day with three purchases for a total of about $351,000. Tyree Stud finished as leading consignor for the day with three lots sold for about $530,200.

The Melbourne premier yearling sale is comprised of two sessions, with the first spanning three days. Monday’s second day of the first session is divided into three sections, beginning at 10:30 a.m. local time, and will include a Blue Riband section featuring yearlings with stamina-influenced pedigrees.

Tuesday will conclude the first session, with a second, one-day session on Wednesday.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.