Rob and Pam Crosby have been breeding horses for 15 years but never have they enjoyed a result like they did at today’s opening session of the Classic Yearling Sale.
On a day of robust trade that saw strength in all facets of the market, it was the Crosby’s Written Tycoon x Sylvia’s Mother colt that topped proceedings, selling to Tony Fung Investments and Inglis Millennium-winning trainer Annabel Neasham for $550,000.
Offered in the Berkeley Park Stud draft, the colt was the subject of intense bidding from several industry powerhouses before TFI’s Sally Williams won the battle.
“We’re really excited to get him. He’s a lovely physical, by Written Tycoon, a champion stallion who’s ever so consistent, out of a fast and very talented Snitzel mare,’’ Williams said.
“In our opinion he was the best colt here at the sale so we were happy to pay the money for him because we loved him and really wanted to get him.
“He’s a lovely athletic colt, very well balanced, ticks every box really. Above all, he seemed to have a wonderful temperament which is incredibly important with these colts.’'
It was that temperament that also convinced the Tamworth-based Crosby’s of Kansas Livestock that their colt would sell well.
“When he went through the ring, he was the calmest horse that sold all day and people take note of that, temperament is so important with these colts,’’ Rob Crosby said.
“We knew he’d do well, he’s by the right sire and his mother was a little champion who we bred and raced so it’s full circle for us.
“We’ve been breeding for 15 years and this is our best ever result in the ring. It’s fantastic.
“I was a bit nervous, I was watching the Sale Day Live broadcast on our TV and I was a bit on edge but that’s only because we were expecting a top price but we got a top price, so we couldn’t be happier.’’
Today’s second-top lot was an Extreme Choice x Top Billing colt of Kingstar Farm, which sold to Brae Sokolski’s Yes Bloodstock and Mat Becker’s Group 1 Bloodstock for $480,000.
The colt will head to Melbourne and be trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.
Sokolski was bidding with his close friend and former champion jockey Glen Boss, whose advice he leant on when deciding to purchase the colt.
“Bossy actually had a look at him and is a good judge himself and he liked what he saw,’’ Sokolski said.
“Matty Scown still does all my bloodstock work, he does an amazing job, but Bossy is a close friend.
“We’ve bought one Extreme Choice before, a filly, and now we’ve got a colt. Hopefully he goes on with it, he looks like he’s going to go early, he’s a strong, mature colt so I have high hopes for him.
“It’s a very good sale, there’s always good quality yearlings, a strong market and we’re always active in the sale.’’
Kingstar’s Adam Cook described the colt as a “standout’’ and one he had no doubt would develop into a talented racehorse.
“He’s a beautiful, strong, good moving colt with an impeccable brain on him,’’ Cook said.
“I can see him handling 2YO training to a tee. I’m glad he’s going to a good trainer, I’m glad a good investor bought him so I think they’re going to have a great amount of success with that horse because I truly believe he’s going to be a proper racehorse.
“We want our horses going to good trainers and these good trainers are now starting to buy off us.
“We’ve been going about seven years now and it takes a while to get a good reputation and to be totally honest, we’ve built up a strong reputation in a relatively short amount of time.’’
The third-top lot was an Ocean Park x Sacred Rhythm colt, which sold to Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock – on behalf of Bob and Sandra Peters – for $460,000.
Offered by Lime Country on behalf of Jamieson Park’s James Chapman, he became the most expensive Ocean Park yearling ever sold.
“We blew the budget completely, it was way over the limit,’’ Gabbedy conceded.
“We looked at plenty [of Ocean Parks] in New Zealand as well but this was one of the nicest ones I’ve seen this year.
“Mr Peters is a very patient owner, he loves Ocean Park. He breeds to him and he’s the perfect sire for what Mr Peters likes, to give them time and be more of a three and four-year-old.’’
Jo Griffin of Lime Country added: “Everybody was on him, all the big trainers loved him, he’s a very stylish horse, out of a Stakes-winning Pentire mare and I said to him “that’s why you come to Australia to sell your best horses James!
“We had him on the market at $150,000 and thought he might make $250,000-$300,000 so when that hammer came down at $460,000, it was like ‘wow’.’’
At the conclusion of Day 1, the sale average sits at $115,767 with a clearance rate of 81% and gross of $23,616,500.
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch was pleased with the day’s trade.
“It was a very good day of trade – the second-best start to a Classic Sale ever,” Hutch said.
“There were some fantastic results across a variety of vendors.
“There is an incredibly broad buying bench engaged with the sale and with so many nice horses on offer across tomorrow and Tuesday, there are going to be abundant opportunities for those who have missed out today to get involved over the next two days.”
To make an offer on a passed in lot from today or at any stage throughout the sale, contact Harry Bailey on 0420 997 417.
The remaining two days of the 2023 Classic Yearling Sale will begin at 10am and will again be broadcast live on the Inglis website and Facebook page via our Sale Day Live coverage.
Coverage begins daily at 9.30am with the Preview Show.
The Highway Session (Book 2) is on Tuesday following the completion of the main book.
To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.
2023 CLASSIC YEARLING SALE DAY 1 STATISTICS
(Last year in brackets)
Lots sold: 204 (207)
Clearance rate: 81% (85%)
Average Price: $115,767 ($127,271)
Median Price: $90,000 ($110,000)
Top Price: $550,000 ($775,000)
Gross: $23,616,500 ($26,345,000)
