Group III winner Crafty Irna sold in foal to Sebring May 5 for $610,000 ($566,075 in United States funds), the highest price at the select session of the Inglis Australian broodmare and weanlings sale in Sydney.
The Tyreel Stud unreserved dispersal of 22 mares, who sold for an average price of $168,545 ($156,408) was a feature of the day's auction, but it was Crafty Irna, a Starcraft mare carrying her first foal who grabbed the headlines. She was offered by Widden Stud and bought by William Inglis, agent.
Crafty Irna compiled a 4-8-2 career line from 34 starts while racing through age 6. Her record includes two stakes wins, topped by a victory in the 2011 Patinack Farm Adrian Knox Stakes (Aus-III). She also placed second or third in eight other stakes, five of them group events.
A total of $12,890,850 ($11,962,618) was traded on 204 select session broodmares. The clearance rate was a strong 82%. The average price of $62,111 ($57,658) was up 17%, the sale company reports. The median price was $21,000 ($19,491).
Tyreel Stud provided four of the five top-selling horses: Crossyourheart, Mid Summer Music, Brothers Dream and San Cristobel.
Crossyourheart, by Show a Heart, was sold to Steve Brem for $480,000 ($445,459) carrying a full relation to the Commands yearling filly that sold to Shadwell Australasia for Aus$600,000 at last month's Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale.
Group 1 winner Mid Summer Music, a daughter of Oamaru Force, was sold in foal to All Too Hard for $375,000 ($348,015) to Bruce Perry Bloodstock.
Brothers Dream, a half sister to group I winner Charge Forward, was knocked down to George Altomonte of Corumbene Stud for $370,000 ($343,374). The Redoute's Choice mare was carrying a positive pregnancy test to Sepoy, while Fastnet Rock mare San Cristobel was also sold for $370,000.
Damon Gabbedy of Belmont Bloodstock secured the top-priced weanling May 4, a colt by Fastnet Rock from Delta Girl for $450,000 ($417,635). Gabbedy went to $360,000 (334,108) May 5 to purchase Delta Girl herself when the General Nediym mare was offered in foal to Pierro by Coolmore Stud.
Belmont Bloodstock was also the buyer of Group II winner Cute Emily, a daughter of Choisir in foal to Sebring for $340,000 (315,575) from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud.
The remaining select session broodmares will be offered May 6, followed by the supplementary select broodmares then the general session broodmares to conclude the sale.