by Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ
A stronger clearance rate and plenty of demand at the top end led to a record gross, hitting over A$19 million, at Thursday's Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
The gross was A$19,054,000, up 22% from 2024's A$15.607 million aggregate. The average was A$156,180 (-5%) and the median was unchanged at A$100,000. Of the 163 lots offered, 122 sold (75%). A record 64 lots realised A$100,000 or more (up from 50 last year) while 39 sold for A$200,000 or more (up from 28 in 2024).
The leading buyer was Hong Kong's Hermitage Thoroughbreds, who bought the top lot, a Toronado colt (lot 188), who made A$900,000 from first time vendors Hunter's Lodge. It was a new record price for a colt at this sale. Hermitage was the leading buyer by gross (A$2.585 million) and average (A$430,800) with six horses purchased, including the sale topper.
Nolen Racing was the leading vendor by aggregate once again, selling 15 horses for A$2.18 million, with an average of A$145,800. Rathosheen Bloodstock was the leading vendor by average, achieving A$349,000 across their draft with six sold at an aggregate of A$2.09 million.
Toronado was the leading stallion by aggregate (A$1.99 million), while Exceed And Excel led the averages at A$400,000 for three lots sold. Wooded had the highest average among first-season sires, with two horses sold for an average of A$332,500.
“I said before the sale that we were the best prepared in terms of the work we had done and the vendors had done, and put together a group of buyers and so we were in a good spot to run as good a sale as we could,” said Hutch, who was pleased with the sale's metrics.
“We had great depth among the buyers at the top end. I think there were plenty of people making money today. There's more than enough opportunity for people to lift the bar again.
“Turnover is going to go through A$19 million, that's a significant step up on the previous record for the sale. I feel like we can take it further again. We want to grow the market and encourage more domestic and New Zealand-based vendors to take part.”
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