The 2021 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale has been judged an unmitigated success by all participants involved. Record prices and strong demand right across the board saw a 91 percent clearance rate — which is virtually as good as it gets for any thoroughbred bloodstock auction house!
The Sledmere Sales team did another outstanding job for our clients. In total, 16 of the 17 yearlings we offered were sold for an aggregate of $2,030,000 and an average of $126,875 (compared to a sale Book 1 average of $102,421).
At the head of a number of very notable sales involving the Sledmere consignment was the top price of $360,000 received for a magnificent son of first season sire Almanzor (Fr) sold on behalf of our great friends at Little Avondale Stud, Masterton. The purchaser of the colt proved to be Zhongli Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd operating out of Berrima in the Southern Highlands.
Top-price fetched by the fillies we offered was achieved by Lot 406, a beautiful daughter of Shooting to Win bred by long-term Sledmere associate Philippa Duncan. Put through the Riverside Stables sale ring late on Day 2, the direct descendant of the legendary Eight Carat was sold to Ciaron Maher Racing for $260,000 and is now set to join one of the most successful stables in the country.
A further five members of our 2021 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale draft realised sizeable six-figure sums during the three days of trading. And after achieving 100 percent clearance at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast, the Sledmere Stud sales team went mighty close in registering the same feat again when selling all but one of the 17 yearling we took to Riverside Stables for a 94 percent Classic Sale clearance.
Moreover, 2021 Sledmere Classic Sale graduates were again bought with confidence by a tremendous cross section of thoroughbred participants and will now filter in to the hands of such notable trainers as (and in no particular order) Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace, Team Hawkes, Michael & Richard Freedman, Bjorn Baker, Lloyd Kennewell, Bryce Heys, Peter Robl, Stuart Kendrick etc, operating up and down the eastern seaboard.
Selling yearlings for prices which hopefully exceed their reserve is obviously the objective of all vendors, but selling future racing prospects to such an outstanding bunch of stables is icing on the cake!
Footnote: The Sledmere Stud sales team did achieve 100 percent clearance of our Classic Sale draft when Lot 476 was subsequently sold to Snowden Racing P/L for $100,000 later in the week. As a result, our aggregate climbed to $2,130,000 for all 17 Lots sold at an average of $125,294.