Too Darn Hot's strong form in Australia translated into sales ring success when a colt (Lot 499) by the star Darley shuttler sold to X Bloodstock for a session-topping AU$750,000 (US$531,071, AU$1=US$0.71), on Day 2 of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, March 2.
At the close of trade on Monday, with Book 2 to come on Tuesday, the sale had grossed AU$60,707,000 (US$42,986,323), up 15% year-on-year with 37 more lots sold.
The average was AU$146,990 (US$104,083), an increase of 5% at the same stage last year, with the median lifting 20% to AU$120,000 (US$84,971). The clearance rate was running at 79%, up from 76%.
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch described the past two days as "plenty of fun and exceptionally rewarding."
"As I said (Sunday), we were always of the belief in the lead-up to the sale that we were being supported with a really strong catalog and worked hard to recruit a large and diverse buying bench, and I think a combination of those two things created a fantastic atmosphere, which led to strong and consistent bidding over the past two days,'' Hutch said.
"All the key metrics have improved markedly—the gross is up over AU$8.1 million on the same stage last year, the clearance is up, the average is up, and the median is up.
"A lot of people have commented on the diversity of the buying bench here, and you only need to look at the buyer sheet to understand why, with participation from Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Vietnam, etc., and of course, all around Australia.
"We have worked hard over a number of years to give vendors and breeders confidence that we can deliver the best results. In the context of this sale, there is a particular focus on getting the support of local breeders with their best horses, and hopefully, the results this year create a platform for us to progress this sale even further in the years to come.
"I know there are plenty of buyers that have left the complex today disappointed they were unable to acquire the stock they wanted, and there are plenty of opportunities to fill those orders in Book 2 tomorrow.''
Too Darn Hot's reputation as a top-class producer came to the fore last month when his son Tropicus landed the Oakleigh Plate (G1) at Caulfield, and he has continued to prove hot property in sale rings throughout the Southern Hemisphere.
The colt was offered by Gilgai Farm, and the operation's Kelly Skillecorn knew the colt would sell well, but even he was blown away by the action in the ring.
"Ever since he was a foal, we've had people turning up trying to buy him, but we've wrapped him up for here at Inglis Premier. It's a lot of money, we're most grateful,'' Skillecorn said.
"I want to thank James Price because he found X Bloodstock, a new player, and they've spent over AU$1 million with us this sale."
The youngster is out of Baveno, a winning daughter of Street Cry, meaning he is bred on the same cross as multiple group 1 winner Broadsiding and group 3 scorer Arabian Summer.
The mare was purchased by Dermot Farrington for AU$300,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2018 and has produced one winner from three foals to race.
X Bloodstock signed for four lots during Book 1—all colts—which was exactly their goal leading into the sale.
"It has been a long-term plan to attend Inglis Premier, and I gave (Inglis' Victorian bloodstock manager) James Price a specific brief of what we wanted, and that was to see the best colts in the sale. I worked with James to identify those types of colts specifically, and we have been able to buy four,'' an X Bloodstock spokesperson said.
"The Too Darn Hot colt was just an absolute athlete. He had scope, he had size and strength, he had an amazing temperament.''
