Some of the most sought-after yearlings in the world will go under the hammer in Sydney this Sunday and Monday, when Inglis hosts its famous Easter Yearling Sale.
Youngsters out of Group 1 winners Sunlight, Shoals, Montefilia and 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle are among the 472 lots catalogued, along with siblings to high-achievers including Switzerland, Estijaab, Classique Legend, Zougotcha and Trapeze Artist.
The sale falls at a turbulent time economically, with the conflict in the Middle East impacting markets globally, and while that has made Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch cautious around expectations, he remains confident in the catalogue that has been assembled.
“I don’t think people know what to expect, there are so many variables in play economically,” Hutch said.
“Really, all we can do is try and do our best to facilitate the best market we can, try and provide the best service that we can and if it happens that people turn up and want to buy horses and are happy to invest, well great.
“If it doesn’t, we just want to be able to work away and walk away from the thing and be proud that we’ve done our best.”
This year’s sale has been brought forward a week owing to Easter falling on the first weekend in April, which normally precedes the sale, and this year’s book is up 12 percent up on last year when the sale grossed $151 million with yearlings selling at an average of $447,832.
This year’s Easter Sale was to be where the second foal from Winx was to be offered, two years after the Pierro filly out of the legendary mare sold for $10 million, but that colt by Snitzel was withdrawn late last month owing to a setback in the preparation.
There remains no shortage of high-quality bloodlines available, however, with Extreme Choice, I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Zoustar and boom young sires Home Affairs and Anamoe among the other stallions prominent in the catalogue.
Hutch said the vibe on the grounds at the Riverside Sales Complex had been strong during the inspections stage.
“I think typically it’s a sale that people look forward to,” he said.
“We promote it on the basis that it’s the best yearlings offered by the best breeders at the best complex.
“We feel like we’ve got a particularly good catalogue of yearlings this year. There are obviously more challenging circumstances under which to be offering a draft of yearlings, but the horses are, on the main, very good and it’ll really be up to buyers to decide how they feel about them.”
The first lot of the sale, a filly by Home Affairs out of Kiwi Group 1 winner O’Marilyn, will go under the hammer at 11am Sunday.
