A brother to G2 winner Stretan Angel topped Day 2 of the Classic Yearling Sale, realising a to-date sale high $540,000.
On a buoyant day of trade at Riverside, the sale continued to build off the encouraging start from yesterday, working its way to a clearance rate of an impressive 84% at the close of day.
It was the Kirks Bridge Farm-offered Harry Angel x Sretan colt which enjoyed overall honours on Day 2, to the delight - and shock - of farm manager Brad McCarthy.
“I’m speechless. It’s amazing,’’ McCarthy said.
“He’s just been a standout colt from day one, he was the nicest colt on the farm, he was the nicest weanling on the farm, he was the nicest yearling on the farm, he’s been an absolute professional all the way through.
“He’s been out so much this week, he’s been so busy and he hasn’t turned a hair, he’s just been an absolute star.
“We’re only a small farm and a small crew and we work pretty hard to get them nice and quiet so they can come down here and parade the best they can. He had a lot of good comments made about him so it’s just unbelievable.
“I thought he’d be a real standout here and I thought physically he was ready for it and mentally he was ready for it. I need to give some credit to [Inglis bloodstock consultants] Angus [Robertson] and Willy G [Will Gardner], when they came on inspections to the farm I floated the idea by them and they said ‘have a crack’ and the horse just matured so well toward the end of the prep. I knew then we’d made the right decision.’’
Equine Growth Fund’s Stefan Pardi, who signed for the colt (pictured), described him as “the best horse in the sale’’, something his price tag reflects at this stage.
“It was a no brainer for me but I really didn’t want to have to stretch myself that far at this sale but it only comes around once a year that you try and find horses like this at a particular sale. I just had to go a bit stronger and I’m happy that I got him,’’ Pardi said.
“This colt is a stallion prospect and this is what Equine Growth Fund is trying to do...we’re trying to buy these horses to make stallions basically and he was my number one colt, my number one horse out of 800 at this sale.’’
Today’s second-top lot was a Castelvecchio x Panzerfaust colt of Arrowfield, which sold to trainer Bryce Heys and Ellerslie Lodge for $390,000.
The colt was part of a big day for Arrowfield, which head into the final day of the sale as leading vendor with 26 yearlings sold to date.
“Looking at our inspection numbers they’re up on last year. There’s been plenty of people here in all sectors of the market, it’s been really encouraging and bodes well for Easter too I think,’’ Arrowfield’s Jon Freyer said.
“This fellow is a lovely colt and he’s been really popular, we had so many inspections on him, as many as I can ever remember at a Classic Sale and he sold accordingly.’’
The full brother to the colt, Are You Kidding opened his account this afternoon at Muswellbrook when bolting in at his third race start.
Heys added: “He’s the profile of horse we’re looking for. He’ll only get better when he gets older.
“He was one we rated very highly and we were on our last legs in terms of bidding but thankfully were able to secure him.
“He’s a big, strong individual so hopefully he’s got the capacity to train on as an older horse and an older staying horse. He’s the horse we were looking for and we’ll give him every opportunity.’’
At the close of Day 2, the sale’s gross was $39,315,000, over $3,000,000 or almost 9% higher than the corresponding stage of the auction 12 months ago.
“The sale had a particularly good feel to it today,’’ Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch said.
“The clearance rate is the most pleasing aspect so far. To be at 84% for the sale at this point is excellent, particularly in the context of it having been 77% at the equivalent stage 12 months ago, during what was a good sale.
“We set ourselves the objective of working to facilitate the best market that we possibly could and it has been very pleasing to see so many vendors achieve excellent results to this point of the sale.
“There has been great diversity and depth to the buying bench, with buyers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan supplementing strong participation from the Australian trainers, syndicators and agents.
“Tomorrow again presents some fantastic opportunities so I’m hopeful things will continue along a similar trajectory as the first two days of the sale.’’
To enquire about a passed in lot from the sale so far, contact Will Gardner on 0480 515 694.
The third and final day of the 2026 Classic Yearling Sale will begin at 10am and will again be broadcast live on the Inglis website, Facebook page and X page via our Sale Day Live coverage.
A dedicated Preview Show will begin at 9.30am.
To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.
DAY 2 STATS (2025 in brackets)
Sold: 403 (373)
Clearance: 84% (77%)
Average: $97,556 ($97,153)
Median: $80,000 ($80,000)
Gross: $39,315,000 ($36,238,000)
