Inglis’ new Riverside Stables sales ring will light up over the coming two weeks
The victory of Estijaab in last week’s $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper Stakes was, in many ways, a fitting ‘send-off’ to what was the Australian thoroughbred industry’s most historic sales venue: Inglis’s Newmarket site.
A $1.7 million graduate from the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale – one of 17 seven-figure lots from the record breaking auction – Estijaab will be the last Golden Slipper winner to grace the Newmarket ring.
That is because the Inglis roadshow has now shifted to its massive new complex at Warwick Farm – the Riverside Stables – and the first Easter Sale at the new ‘digs’ will commence at 2pm next Monday, running through to Wednesday’s twilight.
Somewhat eagerly, given the stakes at play, inspections commenced on Monday morning for the 534-lot strong catalogue, but the yearling sale is hardly a ‘stand-alone’.
The auction action actually kicks off this Thursday night (5th April) with the small, but rather select offering of four for the Chairman’s Sale – Elite Racing Prospects, then three days of yearlings from Monday (9th), followed by the 199 deep Chairman’s Sale – Elite Breeding Prospects on Thursday (12th), before a two-day break and a 649 lot finale that is the Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale.
And just in case you were wondering why you’re buying and selling, the four sales will be split on the two Saturdays by the ‘Championships’ at Royal Randwick, featuring eight Group One races and $20.2 million in prizemoney.
“It really is a fantastic two weeks of thoroughbred action here in Sydney,” Inglis Managing Director, Mark Webster points out.
“This year’s Easter catalogue is as strong as any catalogue we have ever produced so it’s going to be very exciting … the biggest two weeks of thoroughbred sales in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Only time will tell if there is another Estijaab to be sold in the next two weeks, but rest assured, Riverside will be full of people trying to find the 2019 Golden Slipper winner.
