Boutique vendor, The Chase, is making a clear statement of intention with its inaugural draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
With only one day of the three days of trading remaining and exclusively representing the Australian breeding arm of the China Horse Club, The Chase has compiled a series of notable achievements:
- Leading vendor by Median (3 lots or more): AUD300,000
- Leading vendor by Average (3 lots of more): AUD233,333
- Day 1: 2nd highest priced yearling sold (Extreme Choice x Brisk colt AUD320,000)
- Day 2: Sold two of the top 10 lots
“We try to be very transparent sellers and get the horses on the market and I think the buying bench has responded to that” – Mike Smith
The Chase set a high watermark on the opening day of selling when its Extreme Choice x Brisk colt was in high demand before eventually being secured by Extreme Choice’s former trainer Mick Price.
Extreme Choice x Brisk colt was the second highest priced lot on Day 1
Twenty-four hours on and it was again an Extreme Choice, this one a filly out of well bred unraced Lady Xuxa, who stood tall before being secured by repatriated Victorian trainer Cliff Brown.
“This is obviously our first year selling at Classic under our own name and to start it off like that, it couldn’t be any better,’’ said Mike Smith, representing The Chase and China Horse Club, said of the Brisk colt.
“We try to be very transparent sellers and get the horses on the market and I think the buying bench has responded to that, they know they can come and buy our best stock off us and we were happy to offer a colt of his quality here at Inglis.
“It was a fantastic result and great to see him go to such a good home in Mick Price, who obviously knows the stallion so well. For him to end up in his stable, for us, is huge.’’
The leading trainer was singular in his view of the colt and determined not to leave the Inglis auction ring without him.
“He’s one colt I just wanted to buy and train,” Price said.
“He’s a late November foal and I think he’s really going to furnish into a lovely horse. When you see him move, that’s what really got me, he’s a beautiful mover, he’s got a long extended stride in front and behind, very athletic, not too heavy, he seems to have a good brain and as you know we love our colts and we love keeping them as colts so hopefully he’s the next one.
“We’ve been here since Tuesday, we did all our work, the sale has the right horses that we want to buy, I have my own valuations on them and five of them that we’ve bought have come in on the money so I have to say, it’s a very, very good value sale.’’
Extreme Choice x Lady Xuxa filly was a much in demand filly on Day 2