The Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale is the pinnacle of the yearling sale season in the southern hemisphere and Aquis will consign a small and select draft of eight yearlings highlighted by the progeny of Champion Sires including Fastnet Rock, I Am Invincible, Hinchinbrook and Medaglia d’Oro.
Q: What are some of the highlights in Aquis’ draft this year?
With five colts and three fillies, Lot 118 is sure to create plenty of interest. By I Am Invincible, the bay filly is of the stakes placed Exceed And Excel mare Omniscient, a daughter of the Listed-winning, Gr.3 placed Omens, from the family of Erewhon (Gr.1), Manana (Gr.2) and Skytrain (Gr.3). While another in the draft by the same sire is Lot 252, the second foal of the dual winning Commands mare Tremor, a sister to Listed winner Palomares, a three-quarter-sister to dual Gr.2 winner El Cambio and Listed-winning, Gr.3 placed Complicate as well as being a half-sister to Champion 2YO and Gr.1 Blue Diamond winner Earthquake.
From the final Australian-conceived crop of Medaglia d’Oro, the sire of over 230 stakes performers including 25 individual Gr.1 winners such as Golden Slipper winner Vancouver and Golden Rose winner Astern, Lot 205 is a bay daughter out of the Gr.3 performed Not A Single Doubt mare Singularity and is bred on a similar Medaglia d’Oro x Redoute’s Choice cross which has produced this season’s Gr.1 Thousand Guineas winner Flit.
On the colt’s front, Lot 287, to sell on the second day of the sale is from the final crop of the ill-fated Hinchinbrook, out of the winning half-sister to supper talented race mare Invincible Star, a Gr.3 winner and narrow runner up in the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Q: Aquis is not only a vendor, but a leading purchaser at the sale, tell us a little about some previous purchases.
The yearling colt market has evolved to where stallion prospects are high on agenda of all buyers, Easter has traditionally been the source of the premium yearlings both physically and on pedigree, those who succeed on the track instantly cement their future as a stallion, we all strive to achieve ownership of the best performing two-year-olds which Australia is renowned for. We are always looking to secure yearling colts who can furnish into stallion prospects, with an amazing crop of two and three-year-old colts we look forward to the future with optimism. The highlights of our racing team destined for stud are Rathlin, Prague, Global Quest, Osamu, Farnan, Dubious and Free Of Debt, not to forget Pierata, Graff and Olmedo, with farms in three states we can offer a wide range of sires to compliment the broodmare bands of all breeders.
The future is very exciting for Aquis, Australia is the envy of the world with prizemoney levels continuing to grow and the development of numerous race initiatives such as The Everest, Golden Eagle and All Star Mile, we’re keen to continue to source high quality yearlings in the sale ring to supplement our own extensive breeding programs to target the best races we have on offer in Australia.
Q: Aquis have introduced a Fantasy Draft competition this year, it’s something that appears very interesting and different to what we have seen before.
The Aquis Fantasy Draft was introduced at the beginning of the year during the Magic Millions January Sale and the response has been overwhelming.
For no initial outlay, you can register your Aquis Fantasy Draft, whereby selecting a draft of yearlings which have been sold via any Australasian yearling sale in 2020.
With a budget of A$5 million ‘fantasy dollars’, the price the yearling was knocked down for, or in the case of passed in lots – the reserve price, is the amount you will pay to add that selected yearling to your own Fantasy Draft.
You are required by Friday 31 July 2020 at 11.59pm to select up to 20 yearlings, as well as a Bonus yearling by both Divine Prophet and Kiss And Make Up, with the price for both of those bonus yearlings not coming out of your A$5 million budget.
At the end of the 2020 – 2021 racing season, the entrant whose draft has accumulated the most prizemoney is the winner and will be eligible to share in the total A$200,000 prizemoney.
To register and for terms and conditions, head to beadivinephrophet.com
Q: Speaking of Aquis’ first crop sires Divine Prophet and Kiss And Make Up, how do you feel market has taken to them?
The progeny of Divine Prophet and Kiss And Make up have been very well received so far this year in the sale ring, with purchases made by many leading buyers, trainers and agents including Star Thoroughbreds, Belmont Bloodstock, McEvoy Mitchell Racing, Australian Bloodstock, Pike Racing, Joe Pride Racing, Proven Thoroughbreds, Scone Bloodstock and Worthington Racing.
As we head into the Easter Sale, Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet will be represented by two very exciting prospects.
Ian Smith’s Edinburgh Park Stud will offer Lot 25, a colt out of the Oasis Dream mare Lenience from the family of Invincible Spirit and up and coming sire Pride Of Dubai, while Gilgai Farm will present Lot 62, the Divine Prophet half-brother to triple Gr.1 winner Jameka, a stunning mare who was trained by Ciaron Maher, before being sold as a broodmare for $2.6 million. ©
