THERE may not be any $1-million horses sold, but there will be a buzzy, glitzy atmosphere felt around the auditorium at Inglis’ Classic Yearling Sale this week.
Its 2018 sale edition is the inaugural auction opener conducted at Inglis’ new $140 million state-of-the-art Riverside Stables complex at Warwick Farm. With no room for expansion, over 100 years of thoroughbred selling from its Newmarket site at Randwick was sold and came to a conclusion last year, the valuable property now being redeveloped into residences, some recreational space, and as well retaining some of its heritage.
“The build-up (to the first sale) has been great with excitement growing since day one,” said Inglis director Jonathon D’Arcy.
“I think when our clients walk in on the first day of the sale (Saturday evening) hopefully they will be suitably impressed. We have a first-class hotel (The William Inglis) right beside the sale’s auditorium, and with the executive kitchens and quality that people are going to experience here at Riverside – it will be second to none.”
Named after the auctioneering company’s founder – William Inglis, the hotel is the centre-piece of the Riverside Stables precinct, luxury accommodation designed to draw travellers from around the world. Particular care has been taken to signage and to acknowledge numerous good racehorses that have been sold via the Inglis sale’s rings over the past 150 years.
In the last five years – with a catalogue between 467 to 600 horses, there has been a steady increase in gross sales and average, with last year’s Classic Yearling Sale grossing $36m. This is likely to be bettered with an extra 200 entries listed. “Going from 600 to 800 lots for the sale has brought its challenges. We have been doing a lot of marketing to get trainers and buyers here at every level and the response has been great,” said Mr D’Arcy.
Recent times has seen many Classic Yearling horses excel on the track, including last year’s Golden Slipper quinella (She Will Reign and Frolic).
Mr D’Arcy said they are confident people have their sights on buying at the Classic.
