Easter format change with sale to be conducted as virtual auction

By Tim Rowe

Inglis will hold a “virtual” Australian Easter Yearling Sale, backing away from a complete digital auction, as the sales company attempts to make its showpiece market as competitive as possible during the coronavirus shutdown.

After further consultation and lobbying from vendors in recent days amidst a rapidly changing environment, Inglis yesterday confirmed it would revert to a two-day sale with an auctioneer offering each horse from the Riverside Stables rostrum.

Bidding will still be taken online with limited phone bidding also being used throughout the sale via an approved Inglis staff member. The sale, which was set to run over four days from April 5, will now be staged from 10am on Tuesday and finish on Wednesday.

“We have tremendous faith in our digital platform that has served us so well for many years and is a format we will continue to use not only for our twice-monthly Inglis Digital auctions but for future yearling or breeding stock sales when required, but in this instance a majority of vendors wanted a virtual auction with online bidding, rather than a fully digital auction, and we’re lucky enough to be in a position to facilitate that,’’ Inglis managing director Mark Webster said in a statement yesterday.

“We have a mandate to achieve optimum results for our vendors and there is an overwhelming feeling the best way to realise that is with a virtual sale.

“We have been extremely encouraged by the response to the online Easter Sale, particularly in this past week, from both domestic and international participants and with five days remaining before the first lot is offered, I expect buyer registration to increase even more.”

A test auction will still take place today, between 2pm and 3pm, for all registered bidders. This will include auctioneer audio and yearling videos.

“These are hugely trying circumstances to hold a sale of any description but I am exceptionally proud having seen significant amount of international press in recent days highlighting the fact Inglis technology can and will facilitate this Easter sale when it appears no other jurisdiction around the world has the facility or capability to hold a major bloodstock sale at the moment,” Webster said.

“Buyers now still have five days to inspect these yearlings across Australia and New Zealand, so I would urge those who are yet to see the yearlings to get to as many as possible in coming days.

“We absolutely appreciate the support of our vendors and as challenging as this situation is for our clients, there are certainly going to be many positive stories – and champion racehorses – to come from next week’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.’”

The sale will be hosted on the Inglis home page, inglis.com.au, and all prospective buyers must be pre-registered and have credit approval pre-authorised.

Sales

Easter format change with sale to be conducted as virtual auction