Thursday, 11 April 2019: The Australian Easter Yearling Sale closed on Wednesday with more than $122 million traded over the two days, making it the second highest aggregate behind the remarkable sale of 2008.

A total of 19 lots realised $1 million or more, purchased by 13 different buying groups and representing 11 different sires - Snitzel, Fastnet Rock, Deep Impact, Exceed And Excel, I Am Invincible, Lonhro, Redoute’s Choice, Not A Single Doubt, Zoustar, Pierro and Brazen Beau.
Another 56 lots sold for $500,000 or more as seven stallions recorded their highest ever individual sale price - Snitzel ($2.8 million), Exceed And Excel ($1.7 million), Lonhro ($1.4 million), Brazen Beau ($1.150 milion), Vancouver ($950,000), Rubick ($900,000) and Time For War ($800,000).
In total 343 lots were sold over the two dayus for $122,235,500 at an average of $356,372. The median was $262,000 and the clearance rate 84 percent.
After trade on Day 1 realised a southern hemisphere record of $63,990,500 the second session on Wednesday was topped Tyreel Stud’s Exceed And Excel colt from Written Dash, a G3 winner by Written Tycoon.
He was purchased by Aquis Farm for $1.7 million, one of 13 outright acquisitions that made the operation being the sale’s leading buyer by both lots purchased and aggregate ($8,375,000).
Aquis also purchased five lots in partnership.
Aquis Farm CEO Shane McGrath described the colt as “a horse we just had to have’’.
“It’s a credit to Tyreel for producing a horse of this quality. He’s an absolute star,’’ McGrath said.
“We didn’t have a specific target in terms of numbers, we just wanted to come here and secure some nice horses.
“We’ve got the system that seems to be working for us and it’s a big team effort. It’s been a big week for us.’’
Arrowfield Stud was again leading vendor by aggregate ($21,470,000) with principal John Messara describing the two days as “a great sale’’.
“The buying bench has absolutely been as good as in years previous. Everyone seemed to be here,’’ Messara said.
“With a smaller number of stock, there was some real pressure from the buyers.
“The smaller catalogue worked well. There was a sense of urgency knowing there weren’t as many horses and knowing that if you wanted one you better buy it because you mightn’t get a chance to buy another one.’’
Byers come from all Asian racing countries, the UAE, UK, US and New Zealand.
2019 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE STATISTICS
Lots sold: 343
Clearance Rate: 84%
Average Price: $356,372
Median Price: $260,000
Top Price: $2,800,000
Gross: $122,235,500
TOP LOTS
$2,800,000 – Snitzel x Ichihara colt (lot 49) Vendor: Corumbene Stud. Buyer: James Harron Bloodstock
$2,300,000 – Fastnet Rock x Legally Bay colt : Segenhoe Stud; Aquis Farm
$1,700,000 – Deep Impact x Grito colt : Arrowfield Stud; Spendthrift/Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock
$1,700,000 – Exceed And Excel x Written Dash colt : Tyreel Stud; Aquis Farm
$1,400,000 – I Am Invincible x Captivating Claire colt : Segenhoe Stud; Tom Magnier/Hermitage Bloodstock
$1,400,000 – Lonhro x Dancing Heather filly : Newhaven Park; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
LEADING BUYERS
Aquis Farm - $8,375,000 (13 lots plus 5 in partnership)
Orbis Bloodstock - $7,400,000 (8 lots)
James Harron Bloodstock - $5,275,000 (4 lots)
Dean Hawthorne - $4,805,000 (9 lots)
Hermitage Thoroughbreds - $3,810,000 (8 lots)
LEADING VENDORS
Arrowfield Stud - $21,470,000
Coolmore Stud - $13,142,500
Segenhoe Stud - $8,670,000
Yarraman Park Stud - $5,100,000
Sledmere Stud - $4,860,000
LEADING STALLIONS
(by average, 3+ sold)
Deep Impact - $850,000 (4 sold)
Lonhro - $603,333 (3 sold)
Snitzel - $537,292 (24 sold)
Not A Single Doubt - $528,333 (15 sold)
Exceed And Excel - $524,583 (12 sold)