Two days of stunning trade sent a positive signal to the industry at this week’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Turnover of $122 million made it the second-best Easter Sale on record and the most successful since 2008. Trimmed to 450 Lots, the average rose to $356,372 on a clearance rate of 84%.

An energetic buying bench from all corners of the globe bid on 19 lots that realised $1 million or more and 75 lots that sold for $500,000 or more.

“Breeders know Inglis Easter is the best place to sell their best yearlings,” Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said. “That has been proven yet again with buyers from Asia, UAE, UK, USA and of course Australia and New Zealand.”

Lloyd Kennewell and Matt Becker (pictured) of Group 1 Bloodstock topped the Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) leader-board with $1.7 million for a colt by Japanese great Deep Impact. It was their second seven-figure buy this year following a $1.7 million colt by I Am Invincible at the Gold Coast.

The Deep Impact – Grito (Redoute’s Choice) colt is related to last Saturday’s G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Microphone (Exceed And Excel). “He was the first horse that I saw when I got here,” Kennewell said. “I kind of knew he was the one all the time.”

Kennewell bought him for Spendthrift Farm. “They are invaluable as friends and clients and so is my relationship with Matt. We knew each other as kids and we’re driving on now. He’s pretty instrumental in what I am doing. If you can team up with someone like that, it makes it a lot easier.

“Now it’s up to me to get the business end done.”

Astute Bloodstock’s Louis Le Metayer was quoted as saying the Sydney Easter Sale was the strongest yearling sale he had ever attended. Le Metayer missed out with two million-dollar bids before landing an $800,000 colt by Not a Single Doubt from Arrowfield Stud.

“I’m very happy to get him. He comes from the best farm and is by a good stallion from fast American mare,” Le Metayer said. “I bought him for a Hong Kong client and he will start out with Archie Alexander.”

Randwick Bloodstock Agency has been active with Star Thoroughbreds this year and they spotted some value taking home colts by Sebring & So You Think and a filly by Zoustar. Total price for the trio was $560,000.

The Sebring – Ruby Dee colt is from a sister to Darley sire Brazen Beau who was represented by his first million-dollar yearling at the Easter Sale.

Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy bought fillies by Dissident and Fastnet Rock for a total of $400,000 and he had a hand in the Exceed and Excel – Written Dash colt that was a $1.7 million target for Aquis Farm on Day 2.

Gabbedy bought Written Dash for $410,000 on behalf of Tyreel Stud at the 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The Written Tycoon mare won a G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes and has a valuable colt on the ground by I Am Invincible.

Blue Sky Bloodstock: $300,000 on colts by Rubick & Zoustar and filly by Pride of Dubai.
Boomer Bloodstock: $110,000 for a Vancouver colt and Choisir filly.
DGR Thoroughbreds Services: Colts by Teofilo ($160k) and So You Think ($220k),
Dean Watt Bloodstock: Snitzel filly from Irish Champion Fictional Account – $150,000.
Peter Ford Thoroughbreds: $250,000 Pride of Dubai filly for Robbie Griffiths
Laurel Oak Bloodstock: Vancouver filly from WA mare Fuchsia Bandana – $230,000.
Mark Pilkington Management: Fastnet Rock filly related to Sweet Idea – $120,000.
Mitchell Bloodstock: Colts by I Am Invincible ($280k) and Written Tycoon ($200,000).

Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) was formed in 1988 to maintain, improve and develop the standards, status and services of bloodstock agents throughout Australia. Its members operate with the utmost integrity and professionalism and are bound by the strict Industry Code of Conduct.

The list of FBAA members can be viewed at: www.bloodstockagents.com.au