Riverside was abuzz with excitement as the Inglis Ready2Race Sale delivered a day of record-breaking triumphs, crowned by a stunning $900,000 Toronado x Baccarat Baby colt. For first-time breeze-up vendors Cade Hunter and Liam Ruddy of Hunters Lodge, the result was nothing short of a dream.
“It couldn’t feel any better, it couldn’t have gone any better,” Ruddy beamed, reflecting on the whirlwind bidding that sent their top lot far beyond expectations. “We had the reserve at $400,000, so when the bidding opened there, it was just the best feeling. After that, it was pure fun.”
Hunter added, “I’m speechless. It’s so great to get a result like that. The result for our draft as a whole has just been unbelievable for our first year. It’s overwhelming.”
The colt, purchased for $250,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, caught the eye of Hermitage Thoroughbreds and will be trained by Caspar Fownes in Hong Kong. Guy Mulcaster, working closely with Hermitage, praised the horse’s physicality and performance during the breeze-ups.
“It really stood out. We saw him physically, and he matched his breeze perfectly. It was a no-brainer,” Mulcaster said.
The sale, held at Riverside, set multiple records. A total of 64 lots sold for $100,000 or more, up from 50 last year, while 39 fetched $200,000 or more, compared with 28 in 2024. The overall clearance rate reached a robust 75%, with the gross sales topping $19,054,000—smashing the previous record by over $2.3 million.
Not to be outshone, Hermitage also secured the second-top lot: an I Am Invincible x Maroon Bay colt from Crossley Thoroughbreds for $675,000. “This colt has paraded beautifully all week; he’s a vendor’s dream,” said Mitch Pearce.
Tal Nolen emerged as the leading vendor, selling all 15 horses in his draft for a total of $2,188,000. Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch hailed the sale as a triumph for both vendors and buyers, highlighting the impressive international presence, which included bidders from Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
As the dust settles on the record-breaking day, attention turns online to the Inglis Digital October (Late) Sale, which opens tomorrow, promising another wave of high-quality two-year-olds. Among the catalogue of 292 lots are a winning half-sister to G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy, Stakes-winning colt Amazing Eagle, and the high-class colt Emirate.
Read the full Inglis Ready2Race Sale report on RaceBuzz.
