NINE million-dollar sellers at the Gold Coast Magic Millions in January was the bellwether that pointed to an exceptional Inglis Easter Yearling Sale come April. By Wednesday’s close of book 1, the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, conducted for the first time at the new Riverside Stables at Warwick Farm, had witnessed 22 yearlings break through seven figures, five more than last year, with the aggregate of A$116,057,500 second only to the 2008 sale.

With 334 yearlings sold from 397 offered, the average for the sale was $347,478 and the median was $250,000. The clearance rate was 84% with those three metrics just slightly less than last year.

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There were 71 yearlings that made $500,000 or more, with Fastnet Rock (four), Snitzel (seven), Redoute’s Choice (one), I Am Invincible (five), Deep Impact (two), Frankel (one), Pierro (one) and Not A Single Doubt (one) all with yearlings that breached a million dollars.

Day three saw the sale peak when Anthony Freedman went to A$2.3 million to secure the Fastnet Rock colt out of The Broken Shore, herself a Hussonet half-sister to Redoute’s Choice and the producer of the dual Group 1 winner Shoals, the first of her three foals and only to race. “I think knowing the family and training Shoals, I had that intel. That gave me a bit more confidence,” said Freedman. “I think he’s the right type of Fastnet Rock colt, he’s not too big, and I think he’s just a bigger version of Shoals. He was the colt of the year.”

The leading vendor for the sale both by aggregate ($18,265,000) and average ($589,194) was Arrowfield Stud whose champion stallion Snitzel also led by aggregate ($21,685,000) for 41 yearlings sold of 55 offered. By average it was a close battle won by Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock whose 30 sold of 32 offered averaged $554,167, just ahead of I Am Invincible at $548,529 (34 sold of 37) and Snitzel at $528,902.

The leading buyer was Shadwell Stud who outlaid $6,140,000 for nine yearlings, ahead of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (six for $4,600,000) and James Harron Bloodstock (five for $4,430,000).