Colts by Darley sires Street Cry (IRE) and Exceed And Excel brought the top prices on day two of the Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale in Sydney April 8, each selling for seven figures.
The day's highest price of $1.5 million ($1,403,687 in United States funds) was for a son of Central Kentucky shuttler Street Cry—Star on High, by Fusaichi Pegasus . Emirates Park and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum teamed to secure the regally bred colt, who was offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, on behalf of Rick Jamieson's Gilgai Farm. Jamieson is the breeder of undefeated Australian champion Black Caviar.
The session topper is the third foal from Star on High, a half sister to European champion and Irish classic winner Peeping Fawn and French group I winner and young sire Thewayyouare. Second dam Maryinsky is a daughter of blue hen Blush With Pride and thus is a half sister to 2007 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, who produced champion 3-year-old filly Rags to Riches and Jazil, both winners of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Hong Kong bloodstock agent George Moore purchased the son of Australia's reigning champion sire Exceed And Excel, who is from the family of recent Golden Slipper (Aus-I) winner Mossfun, on a bid of $1 million ($935,969), the day's second-highest price.
Offered by Kia-Ora Stud, the colt is the third foal from the winning Dehere mare Allegra, who also is the dam of full brother Eximius, a multiple stakes winner. Allegra is a half sister to unraced Eye For Fun, dam of Mossfun, and multiple group II-placed Cat D'Antibes.
There have been 28 horses by nine sires to sell for $500,000 ($467,984) or more during the first two days of the three-day auction. Those sires, besides Street Cry and Exceed and Excel, include current U.S. leading sire Tapit and Kentucky shuttlers More Than Ready and Lonhro, as well as well Fastnet Rock, Snitzel, Redoute's Choice, and O'Reilly.
Street Cry leads sale sires by average (for three or more sold), with eight of his progeny selling at an average of $520,625 ($487,486). He is followed by Snitzel, Choisir, Redoute's Choice, Fastnet Rock, and More Than Ready.
Cumulative revenue after two days of trading is down 10% from last year's corresponding session at $68,115,000 ($63,779,342) for 266 horses sold. The average price is off 15% at $256,071 ($239,741) and median is unchanged at $200,000 ($187,245). The clearance rated is 81%, compared with 75% a year ago.
The Inglis Australian Easter sale continues April 10 with the third and final session at the Newmarket sales complex.