An exceptionally strong catalogue and a diverse, determined buying bench has resulted in a powerful opening session of the Ingis Easter yearling sale.

On a nostalgic day for the last ever Easter Sale at Newmarket, results showed the market was strong with buyers and vendors getting healthy results.

Statistically, Day 1 ended with the average up 19% to $347,045, median up 42% to $300,000 and clearance rate up 2% to 80%.

The day’s leading yearling was a Redoute’s Choice – Court filly purchased by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa for $1.80 million.  She will be trained by Tony McEvoy and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner English.

“She was extremely popular and all the good judges were on her,” McEvoy said.  “Sheikh Khalifa said everybody wanted ‘my filly’ but thankfully he was too strong.”

Vendor John Kelly of Newhaven Park was stunned by the result.  “She’s a wonderful filly and we were always hopeful of a good result but nobody dreams of selling yearlings for $1.80 million.”

Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was buoyed by the Day 1 results.  “We decided to be even more disciplined with yearling selection this year to ensure Easter maintains its reputation as the source of the best of the best, and that strategy is paying dividends.

“Vendors have presented horses of the highest quality and they are getting well rewarded for their hard work, and buyers appreciate only having to inspect the best of quality.

“Easter is not about numbers, it’s about a standard.”

Day 1’s leading vendor by aggregate was Bhima Thoroughbreds ($3.13 million for 8 lots) with Segenhoe Stud on top for averages ($726,250 for 4 lots).  The leading buyer by aggregate was James Harron Bloodstock ($3,40 million for 3 lots).

The leading sire by aggregate was Snitzel ($5.49 million for 14 lots) and by average was I Am Invincible ($622,000).

Redoute’s Choice – Court filly sold for $1.80 million