Record Top Lot As Key Figures Rise At Melbourne Premier

M A R K E T V I E W Inglis Record Top Lot As Key Figures Rise At Melbourne Premier Jack Keene Journalist @jkeene124 The four-day sale, which follows hot on the heels of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and precedes the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, has seen significant growth in recent years. This year s aggregate of $53,959,500 for 448 lots sold represents a steep increase in A colt by sire of the moment I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) was sold for a record breaking $1,400,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale as the key statistics saw increases across the board. gross receipts of $21,880,819 since 2012, when 552 lots sold realising a total $32,078,681 at the sale five years ago. Compared to last year s renewal, the aggregate was up by just over $2,000,000 from $51,728,000, the average rose to $120,441 from $110,767 and the median increased to $100,000 from $85,000, with the clearance rate holding steady at 88 per cent. The auction-topping son of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), consigned by Gilgai Farm and catalogued as Lot 259, was sold to Caulfield- Overall Figures 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 Catalogued 550 573 623 616 448 614 Offered 508 532 561 545 535 538 Sold 448 (88%) 467 (88%) 469 447 424 552 Aggregate $53,959,500 51,728,000 44,970,500 37,337,181 32,603,184 32,078,681 Average $120,441 110,767 95,886 83,528 76,894 72,412 Median $100,000 85,000 80,000 66,000 60,000 60,000 Top Lot $1,400,000 700,000 560,000 450,000 450,000 500,000 23

based trainer Ciaron Maher for $1,400,000, double the amount paid for the top lot at last year s sale. Maher ended the sale as the leading purchaser after he purchased six lots at the sale for an aggregate of $2,010,000 at an average price of $335,000. Supreme Thoroughbreds took over from Blue Gum Farm as the sale s leading vendor by Ciaron Maher Leading Vendors aggregate, while Gilgai Farm finished top of the standings by average (with three or more lots sold). The recent success of Yarraman Park s I Am Invincible continued at the sale, with his 19 lots sold achieving an aggregate of $4,275,000, while Darley s Lonhro (Octagonal) achieved the best average, with four of his progeny selling for $1,200,000 at an average of $300,000. Growth Continues At Premier The recent growth of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale shows no signs of abating, with the key figures at the fourday auction realising increases for the fifth consecutive year. Simon Vivian, the bloodstock manager for Inglis Melbourne, said the results indicated that the sale was in rude health and that breeders and purchasers alike could conduct business there with confidence. "We went into the Premier Sale with a dedicated aim to achieve a high clearance rate as this truly reflects the health of a sale, Vivian told ANZ Bloodstock News. To that end, we exceeded an 88 per cent clearance and we are delighted with that result. "Furthermore, to break the Victorian record price for a yearling was just outstanding. By selling the colt for $1,400,000, we showed Australasia's breeders that such figures are achievable in Melbourne. "We had a remarkably diverse group of buyers and the Inglis marketing team are to be complimented on attracting so many buyers, both nationally and internationally, to the sale. "I also feel that the median price of $100,000 is a further indication on the way Premier has progressed in the market place. A couple of years ago, that figure was our target for the average price. Now 50 per cent of the horses individually achieve that figure." Vivian s view that the strength and depth of the Premier Yearling Sale had improved was shared by the two leading purchasers. Leading Vendors By Aggregate Vendor Lots Sold Passed In Leading Vendors By Average Vendor Lots Sold Passed In With drawn With drawn Aggregate - $ Average - $ Top Lot - $ Median - $ Supreme Thoroughbreds 36 28 4 4 3,572,500 127,589 500,000 86,250 Blue Gum Farm 31 26 4 1 3,390,000 130,385 440,000 100,000 Gilgai Farm 15 13 1 1 3,205,000 246,538 1,400,000 160,000 Rosemont Stud 24 22 1 1 2,910,000 132,273 625,000 100,000 Woodside Park Stud 28 19 4 5 2,735,000 143,947 300,000 135,000 Swettenham Stud 19 18 1 0 2,162,500 120,139 320,000 95,000 Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm 11 9 2 0 1,860,000 206,667 520,000 150,000 Yarraman Park Stud 9 9 0 0 1,780,000 197,778 300,000 210,000 Maluka Thoroughbreds 20 16 2 2 1,571,000 98,188 220,000 92,500 Millford Thoroughbreds 9 9 0 0 1,505,000 167,222 620,000 100,000 Aggregate - $ Average - $ Top Lot - $ Median - $ Gilgai Farm, Nagambie 15 13 1 1 3,205,000 246,538 1,400,000 160,000 Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm, Corinella 11 9 2 0 1,860,000 206,667 520,000 150,000 Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW 9 9 0 0 1,780,000 197,778 300,000 210,000 Ampulla Lodge, Bunyip 3 3 0 0 520,000 173,333 240,000 200,000 Millford Thoroughbreds, Nagambie 9 9 0 0 1,505,000 167,222 620,000 100,000 Mill Park Stud, Meningie, SA 7 6 0 1 985,000 164,167 280,000 157,500 Noorilim Park, Arcadia 13 10 1 2 1,495,000 149,500 250,000 145,000 Burnewang North Pastoral, Rochester 10 9 0 1 1,330,000 147,778 400,000 120,000 Woodside Park Stud, Tylden 28 19 4 5 2,735,000 143,947 300,000 135,000 Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW 12 7 3 2 972,500 138,929 300,000 125,000 24

Maher Leads The Way Ciaron Maher has enjoyed plenty of success at the auction in recent years, purchasing triple Group One-winning mare Jameka (Myboycharlie) for $130,000 in 2014, and last year he paid $200,000 for the unbeaten juvenile colt Jukebox (Snitzel). The trainer said that prospective owners were attracted to the sale with the majority of the horses on offer being VOBIS eligible. We ve had good success at the sale with Jameka, and last year we had a good two-yearold in Jukebox, Maher told ANZ Bloodstock News. A lot of the horses are VOBIS eligible, which suits racing and buying. I think (the success is) great. A lot of Victorian breeders solely sell there which gives a lot of people confidence going there. (As a buyer) you know the whole draft is going to the sale. I ve found it a good sale in the past. This year, our stable has obviously increased in size and we had a lot of interest before the sale and ended up having a good sale. With a record lot costing $1,400,000 under his belt, Maher headed up the purchasers standings at Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for the first time. The trainer purchased six lots in total at the sale for an aggregate of $2,010,000 at an average price of $335,000 and a median of $147,500, compared to last year when he purchased four lots for a total gross of $720,000 at an average of $180,000, with a top price of $260,000. The Caulfield-based trainer has also enjoyed a successful season on the track, saddling Jameka to run out a wide-margin winner of the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) in October, while Bon Aurum (Bon Hoffa) was also victorious at the highest level in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m). Maher said that the sale-topping I Am Invincible colt had taken his eye from an early stage. I went and inspected him prior to the spring and really liked him then, Maher told ANZ Bloodstock News. I looked at him without any pedigree and just liked him as a physical, as I did with some of their other horses up there (at Gilgai Farm) also. I looked at him again after the spring leading up to the sale and liked the way that he had progressed. He is a lovely mover and he s got a lovely temperament, and obviously he s also got a pedigree to match. Kelly Skillecorn of breeders Gilgai Farm told ANZ Bloodstock News that the stud s principal, Rick Jamieson, was of the opinion that the saletopping colt was one of the best he had ever bred. Rick felt the I Am Invincible colt is as good a horse as he's ever bred and that he would have been a stand out at any sale, Skillecorn said. I thought he was a million dollar colt. Rick came into the sale just hoping to beat his good mate, Peter Anasatasiou's record price of $750,000. I very much doubt he would have made more money in any other sale, but we're confident he'll prove great value for the buyer in the long run. McEvoy Active At Premier Again Tony & Jo McEvoy Trainer Tony McEvoy, who finished second in the purchasers standings having led the way 12 months ago, was also of the opinion that the progress of the sale was good for the Victorian breeding industry. The sale was strong. It s becoming a very good quality sale. I like buying at the Melbourne sales, I think there are a lot of farms in Victoria that are really doing a good job preparing these good horses, McEvoy told ANZ Bloodstock News. I ve had good success buying from the sale and there was a lot of good quality horses there this year as well. I liked the sale, I thought it was very good. Though unable to retain his position as leading purchaser, McEvoy finished the sale in second place in the purchasers standings with 11 lots purchased at an aggregate of $1,745,000 and an average of $158,636. McEvoy s top buy came late on day three, Leading Sires Sire Entries Sold Passed In With drawn Aggregate - $ Average - $ Top Lot - $ Median - $ Lonhro 4 4 0 0 1,200,000 300,000 440,000 255,000 Snitzel 13 11 2 0 3,155,000 286,818 625,000 210,000 I Am Invincible 20 19 1 0 4,275,000 225,000 1,400,000 145,000 Fastnet Rock 12 8 0 4 1,700,000 212,500 380,000 207,500 Not a Single Doubt 9 7 1 1 1,335,000 190,714 520,000 150,000 Written Tycoon 26 20 4 2 3,670,000 183,500 500,000 172,500 Zoustar 17 14 2 1 2,100,000 150,000 360,000 140,000 Redoute's Choice 5 5 0 0 745,000 149,000 290,000 160,000 Hinchinbrook 8 6 1 1 875,000 145,833 220,000 140,000 Excelebration 2 2 0 0 290,000 145,000 170,000 145,000 Savabeel 4 3 1 0 435,000 145,000 230,000 125,000 25

when he made the winning bid of $330,000 to secure Lot 549, a Sebring (More Than Ready) colt from the draft of Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm. The Group One-winning trainer told ANZ Bloodstock News that he felt the colt, who he had identified at an early stage, was something of a bargain. The horse that stood out for me was the horse that I bought off Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm, a Sebring colt, he said. Purchasers Locations Purchasers Locations 2017 Location Lots Aggregate - $ % Spend VIC 208 25,160,000 47.54% NSW 76 8,507,500 16.07% HK 24 4,962,500 9.38% QLD 29 3,802,500 7.18% New Zealand 29 3,142,500 5.94% SA 26 3,000,000 5.67% South Africa 11 1,455,000 2.75% WA 14 1,185,000 2.24% Ireland 4 830,000 1.57% Singapore 8 695,000 1.31% TAS 1 160,000 0.30% South Korea 1 27,500 0.05% Lot 549 Sebring - Just Our Girl colt I thought he was a cheap colt. Having been to all the other sales leading up to Melbourne, I thought that, had he been sold at the Magic Millions up on the Gold Coast, he would have been bought for $500,000. I paid $330,000 for him and he was one of the nicest Sebring colts that I have laid my eyes on so far this year. He was the one colt that I wanted to take home from the sale. McEvoy saddled Hey Doc (Duporth) to win the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) earlier this month, his first Group One winner since branching out on his own, and he said he went to the Premier Yearling Sale with a positive mindset in order to aid the progress of his business model. Purchasers Purchasers Locations 2016 Location Bought Aggregate - $ % Spend VIC 225 23,119,000 44.96% NSW 83 8,464,500 16.46% Hong Kong 21 3,845,000 7.48% New Zealand 29 3,421,000 6.65% QLD 29 3,384,500 6.58% SA 19 2,562,500 4.98% South Africa 18 1,927,500 3.75% WA 15 1,734,000 3.37% Ireland 5 830,000 1.61% China 4 590,000 1.15% Malaysia 2 410,000 0.80% NT 2 210,000 0.41% Singapore 2 200,000 0.39% Macau 2 185,000 0.36% TAS 3 180,000 0.35% UAE 1 155,000 0.30% Korea 3 145,000 0.28% UK 1 60,000 0.12% Leading Purchasers Vendor Location Lots Aggregate - $ Avearge - $ Top Lot - $ Median - $ Ciaron Maher Bloodstock VIC 6 2,010,000 335,000 1,400,000 147,500 McEvoy Mitchell Racing Pty Ltd SA 11 1,745,000 158,636 330,000 150,000 D Weir / J Foote QLD 10 1,390,000 139,000 220,000 135,000 Sun Bloodstock Pty Ltd VIC 3 1,310,000 436,667 625,000 520,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club HK 4 1,310,000 327,500 500,000 305,000 Paul Moroney Bloodstock NZ 8 1,175,000 146,875 320,000 140,000 Lindsay Park Racing VIC 8 1,120,000 140,000 240,000 120,000 Little Kwok Hing Hung / Bahen B'stock HK 2 1,120,000 560,000 620,000 560,000 McDonald Racing VIC 10 1,072,500 107,250 170,000 105,000 Paul Perry Horse Training Pty Ltd NSW 6 970,000 161,667 300,000 155,000 26

I did have quite an aggressive plan. I wanted to go there and get 12 to 15 horses out of the sale to keep my model going like it s been going recently, and there was plenty of nice horses there. I had planned to be aggressive and we were aggressive, he said. Supreme Top Vendors Standings This year s sale also saw a new name at the top of the vendors standings by aggregate, with Victorian-based Supreme Thoroughbreds improving from third place last year. The operation sold 28 of their 32 lots for a gross of $3,572,500 at an average of $127,589, up from last year s aggregate if $2,512,500 from 19 lots sold, though the average was down slightly from $132,237. Supreme s top lot at the sale was Lot 163, a colt by Written Tycoon (Iglesia) who was purchased by Lot 163 Written Tycoon - Octangle colt the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $500,000. Also, I think it s key to mention that if Supreme Thoroughbreds general manager a yearling is by the right sire, there will be Brent Grayling told ANZ Bloodstock News that tremendous interest. If you have a yearling by a the top of the market was strong, and that the sire that buyers want, it just comes clear. operation s success had been boosted by a There is a really good buyers benchmark, partnership Dorrington Park. it s becoming a really international sale. The sale was very prominent with the top Blue Gum Farm, who had finished top of of the market. The good horses sold very, very the vendors standings by aggregate 12 months well. Generally there was a lot of interest; there ago, came in second with 26 lots sold realising was a lot of people there, Grayling said. $3,390,000 in aggregate. We had some really nice horses and they Gilgai Farm were third in the table by sold really well. In my honest opinion the middle aggregate but were out clear at the head of the of the market was a bit soft, but the top of the standings for leading vendor by average, with market was very, very hot. their 13 lots sold realising $3,205,000 at an We had Dorrington Park s horses with us, average of $246,538, almost $40,000 clear of which was a very strong draft which helped increase our aggregate for sure. Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm. Kelly Skillecorn told ANZ Bloodstock News Kelly Skillecorn (Right) Deciles Averages Averages 2017 % Change 2016 Top 10% 335,556 11.81% 300,109 11-20% 186,778 4.40% 178,913 21-30% 150,778 3.29% 145,978 31-40% 126,444 8.41% 116,630 41-50% 104,889 8.91% 96,304 51-60% 85,333 5.73% 80,707 61-70% 74,500 13.48% 65,652 71-80% 59,333 5.95% 56,003 81-90% 47,033 3.42% 45,478 91-100% 29,733 0.72% 29,520 Medians Medians 2017 % Change 2016 Top 10% 290,000 3.57% 280,000 11-20% 180,000 5.88% 170,000 21-30% 150,000 0.00% 150,000 31-40% 125,000 4.17% 120,000 41-50% 100,000 0.00% 100,000 51-60% 85,000 6.25% 80,000 61-70% 75,000 15.38% 65,000 71-80% 60,000 9.09% 55,000 81-90% 50,000 11.11% 45,000 91-100% 30,000 0.00% 30,000 27

that the stud were keen to support the sale and boost the profile of the Victorian bloodstock industry. For the last couple of years we've offered all our yearlings at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, having previously dabbled with sending some of the better ones to Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and Inglis Easter, she said. There are two reasons we offer them all in one go at Melbourne. Firstly, we are conscious of supporting the Victorian bloodstock industry, partly to do with our close friendship with Simon Vivian, but mainly to get fully behind the whole industry down here. Secondly, we feel that if we offer the whole draft as a collective, the punters can be assured that we are not hiding anything. Our drafts will contain the best and worse that there are and the buyers can decide which horse is which. Skillecorn also pressed home the point that breeders can sell their better quality stock at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale with Top Lots - Colts the confidence that they will be sold at the right price. What we and other Victorian breeders can take from the sale as a whole is that there is no doubt that if you take your best horses to this sale, you'll get paid for them, she said. Healthy Racing Industry A Boost With several of the major yearling sales exhibiting market growth this year, Skillecorn was keen to praise the current strength in the Australian racing industry. With prize money levels across the country in a healthy state, Skillecorn said it was vital that racing continued to thrive for the long term prosperity of the breeding industry. The market was up, as it was at Magic Millions and Inglis Classic. The racing industry in Victoria and New South Wales is so healthy at the moment, she said. Let's hope racing keeps going forward, Lot 496 All Too Hard - Fuhrnatic filly because it is directly reflected on the business of breeding and selling thoroughbreds. Following on from the success of the record-breaking four-day sale, Inglis Simon Vivian was thankful for the unwavering support of the local breeding industry "It was a very rewarding and satisfying result, he said. My thanks go to the vendors for entrusting us with a quality draft, to purchasers for their ongoing support and to the Inglis team for bringing it all together." Lot Sex Sire Dam Vendor Purchaser Location Price - $ 259 b I Am Invincible Soorena Gilgai Farm Ciaron Maher Bloodstock VIC 1,400,000 425 b Snitzel Consistency Rosemont Stud Sun Bloodstock Pty Ltd VIC 625,000 68 br Snitzel Mightier Millford Thoroughbreds Little Kwok Hing Hung / Bahen B'stock HK 620,000 205 b Not a Single Doubt Rhodamine Lauriston T'bred Farm Sun Bloodstock Pty Ltd VIC 520,000 163 b Written Tycoon Octangle Supreme T'breds The Hong Kong Jockey Club HK 500,000 167 br Lonhro Original Choice Blue Gum Farm, Euroa Aquanita Racing VIC 440,000 230 b Snitzel Seaside Home Burnewang North Pastoral Ellerslie Lodge NSW 400,000 245 b Fastnet Rock Silent Cash Stockwell Thoroughbreds The Hong Kong Jockey Club HK 380,000 524 b Written Tycoon Hot Spa Bombora Downsn Aquis / Blue Sky B'stock Pty Ltd (FBAA) QLD 350,000 240 b Fastnet Rock She's Got Gears Gilgai Farm M G Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd VIC 340,000 Top Lots - Fillies Lot Sex Sire Dam Vendor Purchaser Location Price - $ 496 b/br All Too Hard Fuhrnatic Supreme T'breds Little Kwok Hing Hung / Bahen B'stock HK 500,000 495 ch Zoustar Fuddle Dee Duddle Rosemont Stud C Roscoe / B Crawford IRE 360,000 63 gr I Am Invincible Members Joy Swettenham Stud Paul Moroney Bloodstock HJ 320,000 108 ch Sebring Miss Keepsake (NZ) Gilgai Farm Aus' T'bred B'stock / CB B'stock / Griffiths Racing VIC 300,000 365 b Foxwedge Bardego Rushton Park Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) VIC 300,000 444 b Pierro Demanding Miss Vinery Stud G Waterhouse / A Bott NSW 300,000 21 b Fastnet Rock Lady Melksham Rushton Park Heywood Bloodstock / Mayfair Speculators SAF 260,000 221 b I Am Invincible Saint Minerva Yarraman Park Stud Paul Perry Horse Training Pty Ltd NSW 260,000 175 b Camelot (GB) Papillon Rouge Noorilim Park Ciaron Maher Bloodstock NSW 250,000 409 br Lonhro Chalonne Blue Gum Farm N Jenkinson / M Dunn NSW 250,000 28