Although it was always expected that the 2020 Easter Yearling Sale will not rise to the dizzying heights to the previous editions, for three vendors and the auctioneers themselves, it was still monumental as three outstanding yearlings realised over A$1m in a sale void of horses and people.

Inglis transformed their sale into a digital version when Coronavirus-enforced restrictions would have forced them to cancel. After week-long physical inspections, buyers logged in to ensure they did not miss out on their singled-out prizes. 

Top lots of the day were the Zoustar sired x Solar Charged colt (lot 212) from Widden Stud purchased by Hawkes Racing and a So You Think x Pinocchio colt from Tyreel Stud (lot 134) which sold to Bon Ho’s Legend Racing – who also races the colt’s half brother Classique Legend.

The pair both sold for A$1.1m.

“For Tyreel Stud, the staff that puts so much time and effort into these horses, this is the grand final. This means everything to us and this Pinocchio colt was just sensational from the outset,’’ Tyreel’s Linda Monds said.

“We’re just over the moon with the result. It’s so good for the farm and the family.

“From a vendor’s perspective, the virtual sale was always going to be daunting, it’s never been done before but full credit goes to Inglis for pulling this off.

“The catalogue is full of outstanding pedigrees and physical types and so far from what I’ve seen on Day 1, Inglis has done the most phenomenal job. They could not have done any more, they have tried to meet the vendors’ requirements and the buyers’ requirements and I believe they have done that.’’

For Team Hawkes, buyers of the Solar Charged colt (a brother to champion mare Sunlight), a weekend of inspections by John and Michael Hawkes led them to their purchase.

“Michael rang me and said ‘we’ve found the colt’,’’ Wayne Hawkes said.

“He just said he’s an absolute A, a perfect A in dad’s opinion and John Hawkes does not hand out many As at a sale in any year.

“Plus the cross works, Sunlight is an iron horse and this bloke only needs to be half as good as her and it would be great if he could go and stand at Widden Stud one day.’’

Widden’s Antony Thompson always knew the colt was going to be seven-figure colt but given the circumstances of the sale, was anxious in the lead-up.

“We hoped for A$1m for that colt from the moment he was born, throughout his life as he grew up you became more and more confident but the past couple of weeks obviously it was a bit of a rollercoaster,’’ Thompson said.

“For him to make A$1.1m in these circumstances is a stunning result so we’re thrilled.

“It’s been a turbulent time where things have changed so much so often but to piece the sale together the way they have is a real credit to the whole team at Inglis. To all the buyers who have got behind the sale from all around the world and around Australia, well done to them too, a huge effort.’’

The day’s third A$1m sale was the leading filly of Day 1, and I Am Invincible x Srikandi buy for Andrew Williams Bloodstock from Kitchwin Hills (lot 223).

Williams described the filly as “one of my favourites from the on-farm inspections’’, a process he enjoyed.

“The order was an outcross filly free of Danehill and this filly just made so much sense, I thought she was so well balanced, a quality individual that looks fast,’’ Williams said.

“We’ve clocked up the KMs, looked at horses two, three, four times but you know what? There’s no difference doing it this way, we’ve got to be a step ahead of the game and if that means being in the car all day, so be it.

“You do your homework, you can sit and bid away from anywhere in the world really. It’s been a good experience, a unique experience and it’s good to be involved in this market.’’

Kitchwin’s Mick Malone added: “It’s been an amazing sale for us, beyond our expectations. For that filly to make A$1m is extremely rewarding for all the staff who have prepped her under extremely strange conditions and hopefully conditions we never see again.’’

At the end of Day 1, the Easter average sat at A$306,957 with a median of A$250,000.