English agent John Warren paid top price on Day 1 of the Inglis Easter yearling sale when going to $1.60 million for the Fastnet Rock colt from Perfect Persuasion.

Offered by Coolmore Stud as Lot 149, the colt is from a sister to champion filly Alinghi.  Warren bought him for Australian and international interests including the China Horse Club.

Tuesday’s trade was a positive start to Australia’s premier yearling sale with $34.81 million spent on 124 head.  The Day 1 averages was down 8% to $280,776 and the median remained the same at $200,000.  The clearance rate improved 1 point to 74%.

The decline this year can be put down to the Day 1 top price of $1.60 million.  Last year’s opening day saw the record-breaking Redoute’s Choice half-brother to Black Caviar make $5 million.

In view of subsequent events, that sale should be scrubbed from the record books.

“Competition in the ring has been fantastic,” Inglis managing director Mark Webster said on Tuesday evening.  “Buyers recognise that year-on-year Easter rolls out champions on the racetrack and in the breeding barn, and they come back to buy the next generation – it’s a well-known and proven formula.”

A new record auction price for a yearling by Snitzel was set when Sheikh Mohammed paid $1.50 million for Arrowfield Stud’s brother to Group 1 winner Snitzerland.  He is likely to be trained by the Golden Slipper winning Hawkes family.

Hawkes Racing paid the highest price for a filly when signing for a $1 million daughter of Fastnet Rock and Hips Don’t Lie.

A new record price was also set for a Lonhro yearling when John Moynihan of the USA outbid Shadwell Stud to purchase Turangga Farm’s filly from Midnight Joy for $840,000.

Day 2 of the Inglis Easter yearling sale starts at 10:30am on Wednesday.

SNITZEL STAR
Sheikh Mohammed paid $1.50 million for this brother to Snitzerland
Photo / Sharon Chapman