Thursday’s final section of Session I at the Inglis Easter yearling sale attracted keen competition with the average soaring to $261,222.
Peter Moody gave $850,000 for the Redoute’s Choice – Park Esteem colt to top Day 3. It ensured the Arrowfield champion sired four of the top five priced lots during Session 1 of which two came from Cressfield Stud.
James Harron secured three high-priced lots for Dr Edmund Bateman. The highest priced of those was the More Than Ready – November Flight colt from Kitchwin Hills that realised $810,000 on Thursday.
Herron looked at More Than Ready’s Golden Slipper placegetter Elite Falls eight or nine times last year and didn’t buy. He made sure to get the November Flight colt this year.
The James Bester – Demi O’Byrne combination continued their buying spree with an $800,000 Encosta De Lago – Pinezero colt on Thursday. It took the pair to the top of the buying list with 6 secured for $3.51 million. Bester also signed for another 11 yearlings in his own right spending a further $3.22 million.
Overall, Session I averaged $239,484 which represents a 9% increase on last year’s figure. The $180,000 median was up 12.5% on 2010 figures. Total trade reached $74 million on 310 head sold at a clearance rate of 81%.