March 3rd, 2021
The 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale maintained the growth and strength that has characterized the market thus far this year. The sale set records for both overall gross and Book 1 average, with increases being seen across most of the board. Inglis did an exceptional job yet again to ensure the sale went off as a success, despite the threat of COVID-19 in Victoria.
Book 1 Review
| Year | Average | Median | Clearance Rate | Lots Offered | Top Price |
| 2021 | $139k | $105k | 88% | 521 | $1.1 mil |
| 2020 | $127k | $110k | 83% | 463 | $725k |
As shown by the table above, which covers Book 1, there were increases across almost all categories. The sales topper, Blue Gum’s Lot 70, a Written Tycoon colt, became only the second Thoroughbred in Victoria to pass the seven-figure mark when he was knocked down for $1.1 million.
Below are the statistics for the Showcase session.
Showcase Session Review
| Year | Average | Median | Clearance Rate | Lots Offered | Top Price |
| 2021 | $46k | $40k | 88% | 195 | $175k |
| 2020 | $46k | $36k | 78% | 234 | $180k |
Leading the sire standings by median (with 3 or more sold) was Yarraman Park’s flagship stallion I Am Invincible. Of stallions with first yearlings on offer, it was Newgate’s Pariah who led median with three or more sold. Of sires with first runners, Arrowfield’s shuttler Shalaa (IRE) shook things up by taking the top spot by both average and median with three or more sold.
*All statistics are for the Premier Session only
FBAA Overview
Fifteen individual FBAA buyers were very active at the sale, taking home 82 lots for just under $11,000,000, making up roughly 15% of the overall sale gross. The median price was $112k and the average was $141k, both above Book 1’s statistics. The highest priced FBAA purchase was $600,000. During the sale Craig Rounsefell, FBAA President, and Louis Le Metayer FBAA Treasurer, recorded the pilot episode of the FBAA podcast, titled “The Shortlist”. They discussed the changes to the FBAA, the state of the Australian market, and their individual approaches to a sale. It is live on the FBAA Twitter, @FBAAustralia.
