Curtain drawn on ‘second most successful Classic Sale ever’.
Inglis labelled this year's Classic Sale the 'second most successful Classic Sale ever held' after selling concluded in Sydney on Tuesday.
The third and final day of the 890-lot catalogue saw the final 130 lots of Book 1 offered before the 140 lots that comprised the Highway session rounded out the sale.
A ticker over $11 million was traded in Book 1 on Day 3, taking to $56,849,500 the amount that changed hands in Book 1 – which averaged $103,363 – while the Highway session grossed $4,533,000.
The 2023 figures were down on the record-shattering 2022 sale – when Book 1 alone grossed more than $66 million at a $122,612 average – but Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch was satisfied with what took place across the three days.
"It has certainly been stronger that what we anticipated pre-sale and I think the volume and variety of buyers has been the major driver of that,'' Hutch said.
"We've had over 380 individual listed buyers across the sale which is incredible and it's a figure that is only going to increase as new buyers get drawn into the market through the opportunities that the passed in lots represent.
"There is no disputing that there were selective elements to the market, but if you had a horse that presented well, vetted well and you were prepared to meet the market, you were very well-rewarded and an overwhelming majority of vendors and breeders are going home really very happy.
"The gross of the sale is going to exceed $61,500,000, meaning this has been the second most successful Classic Sale ever held.
"The top of the market especially was very strong, on par with last year's record renewal in terms of horses to sell for $300,000 and above."
The colt by Written Tycoon out of Sylvia's Mother that TFI, Kia Ora and Annabel Neasham bought for $550,000 on Day 1 remained the highest-priced lot of the sale ahead of colts by Extreme Choice ($480,000) and Ocean Park ($460,000), who also went through on Day 1.
The Yes Yes Yes colt who topped Day 2 for $450,000 was the fourth most expensive yearling sold, while the highest-priced lot of Day 3 was a colt by I Am Invincible out of Dream Ahead mare Navajo Dreamer who sold to Justin Bahen and Kris Lees for $400,000.
"He's sharp but he might take a little bit longer than normal, but I am happy to have a good horse at any age," Bahen said of the colt who was sold by Yarraman Park.
Bon Ho's Legend Racing bought more horses – seven – than any other buyer with his $1,530,000 spend also the most by an individual buyer.
Newgate was leading vendor, selling 31 of the 33 yearlings they offered for a total of $3,786,000, with Tyreel Stud's $187,500 average the best of any farm that sold more than three lots.
With the curtain now drawn on Classic, Inglis's attention turns to the Premier Sale, which will be held at Oaklands Junction in Victoria from March 5 to 7.
