3 minute read

Day One of the Premier Yearling Sale sees strong gains with those predominantly driven by colts both top end and middle market

1. A strong opening day of the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale saw gains in most areas of the market with the top price of $1.1m being paid by James Harron Bloodstock for a son of Written Tycoon out of Gimcrack Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Gybe from Blue Gum Farm.

2. The clearance rate was 83%, up from 75% on Day One last year, while the aggregate was up 19.5% to $27.8m at the end of the first day. The average of $144,189 was an increase of 13.3% compared to the average price of $127,259 for the Premier session last year and the median was unchanged on $110,000.

3, The single largest growth was experienced in the top decile for colts - in 2020 the average price was $331,957 which this year grew 40.49% to $466,364. 

4. The gains experienced at the sale were predominantly driven by colts both top end and middle market while the fillies market’s results were a little muted, apart from the top decile which rose 21.24% from an average of $299,000 in 2020 to $362,500 in 2021. 

5. Written Tycoon finished the day as the leading sire by average (with three or more lots sold) and aggregate, with six of his progeny selling for total receipts of $2,430,000 at an average of $405,000. 

6. Blue Gum was the leading vendor by aggregate selling 13 horses for a gross of $3,040,000 at an average of $233,846.

7. The leading buyer after day one was the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team, with the co-trainers purchasing ten horses for an aggregate of $2,160,000, while Justin Bahen and Matt Laurie led the way in terms of average (with three or more lots bought) purchasing four yearlings for $2,020,000 at an average of $505,000. 

8. Domestic buyers once again were to the fore with Victorian buyers accounting for 67.93% of the market share up from 52.26% last year (for the overall sale). NSW was the next largest region accounting for 21.96%, slightly up on last year.

9. Fifty Stars will back up after his second in Saturday's Blamey Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) to defend his Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) crown on Saturday.

10. Tapit sired the winner of both Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) trial winners on Saturday. Greatest Honour annexed the Fountain Of Youth (Gr 2, 8.5f) to his Holy Bull Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) success while Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Gr 1, 8.5f) winner Essential Quality remained undefeated returning with victory in the Southwest Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Oaklawn.