Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The first day of the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale saw 177 lots sold for $17,691,500, down from the 197 lots sold on day 1 in 2024. Last year’s gross was higher (as expected for more lots sold) at $18,701,000. The clearance rate was lower than 2024, sitting at 73 per cent at the end of day 1 in 2025 compared to 83 per cent last year.
The average sits at $99,952, higher than 2024’s average after day one of $94,929 but lower than 2023’s day one average of $115,767.
The median at the end of the action on Sunday was $80,000, exactly the same as this point last year.
A Wootton Bassett (GB) colt commanded the highest price, attracting a winning bid of $400,000 from McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA). He’s from the family of Air Assault (Justify {USA}).
Blueblood Thoroughbreds led the buyers by volume with seven lots at a total spend of $407,000, while McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) led by gross purchasing four lots at a total outlay of $1.22 million.
Topping the sire statistics by aggregate was The Autumn Sun, who had five yearlings sell for an aggregate of $1 million at an average of $200,000. By average, I Am Invincible came out on top, with three of his yearlings selling at an average of $253,300. First season sire Home Affairs continues to sell well, leading by average (2 or more sold) with two yearlings selling on day one at an average of $220,000.
#1. ‘It was a more than satisfactory day’: Hutch explains
Market conditions appeared to be very similar to 2024, with Sunday’s average at $99,952 a touch higher than the $94,929 average at the same stage last year.
The median ended up at the same $80,000 mark as last year, and aggregate was down to $17,691,500 from $18,701,000; likely contributed to 21 less horses being sold this year with the current lower clearance rate.
Inglis Bloodstock Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Hutch was satisfied at the end of Day 1 selling at Riverside.
Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
He explained, “we were cautiously optimistic at the start of the sale.”
“There is only so much you can do in preparation. We had a strong buyer lineup, happy with the horses that were presented and that were here and the sale has functioned really well today, clearance rate has been short of where we would have liked it.”
Hutch went on to elaborate that, “There are challenges in the market and there really are advantages to getting your horse on the market. Vendors on the whole have been very understanding regarding that.”
“There are challenges in the market and there really are advantages to getting your horse on the market. Vendors on the whole have been very understanding regarding that.” - Sebastian Hutch
“I do think the clearance rate is solid relative to the equivalent stage of other sales and this will improve as the sale goes on as there is still the opportunity that some of these horses will get sold.”
#2. Young sires, with runners, in demand
Having crossed the halfway mark of the 2024/25 racing season, unsurprisingly, those stallions with their first crop of 2-year-olds running well have been rewarded with plenty of interest from buyers on Day 1. Some of the these young stallions that have made an impact include Farnan, Wootton Bassett (GB), Lucky Vega (Ire), Graff and King's Legacy.
Lot 84 - Farnan x Bulle De Champagne (Ire) (colt) fetched $260,000, the top price for progeny of Farnan on Day 1 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Farnan was a consistent presence throughout the day, as buyers try to find themselves a runner in the mould of some of his early types like North England and Commanding Belle.
Six of his second crop sold on Day 1, grossing $920,000 at an average of $153,333, which was significantly higher than the average price paid across the day for all stallions.
Wootton Bassett’s oldest Australian progeny are still only 2-year-olds and he continues to make a big impact. With colts like Wodeton and Pallaton showing so much promise it is no surprise that they are in hot demand at all sales.
He has had three of his second Southern Hemisphere crop sell for a total gross amount of $650,000 and an excellent average of $216,666. His colt out of Elegant Air who was an unraced mare from a very good family by So You Think (NZ) was bought by McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $400,000
Lot 183 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Elegant Air (colt) fetched $400,000 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Another stallion that has made a flying start is Lucky Vega, with his forward types like Within The Law, Vega For Luck and That’s Gold not going unnoticed at Riverside. He had two sell on day 1 at an average of $155,000 and a top price of $170,000. This is a great return off the $17,500 plus GST that he stood for when these yearlings were conceived.
Graff already has a very promising colt in Grafterburners who ran a brilliant race for fourth in the R. Listed $2 million Inglis Millennium last weekend, he had Lot 112 from the draft of HP Thoroughbreds on Day 1 sell for $90,000 to the bid of Tasman Bloodstock.
King’s Legacy had four lots sell, grossing for $340,000 and at an average of $85,000. He has made a great start at stud leaving three winners from only eight progeny to race with two of them being at metropolitan level.
They both ran in the $2 million R. Listed Inglis Millennium, Open Secret looks particularly promising and was very brave in the feature last Saturday running sixth only being beaten 2l after being trapped very wide throughout.
#3. Written By colt shines for Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds
A stunning Written By colt delivered a thrilling result for the team at Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds, fetching $180,000 under the hammer to the bid of John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA).
“We purchased the mare for $10,000 from the draft of Newhaven Park at the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, my husband Rod was very keen on the mare,” said Mikayla Day.
“She was in foal to Written By and we thought we would take a punt on her, he really loved the Written Tycoon/Redoute’s Choice cross with the future foal she was carrying.
There was an added personal connection to the colt’s arrival.
Lot 94 - Written By x Cap Gris Nez (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I was pregnant and we were due around the same time. I really wanted the mare to foal before me and she ended up producing a lovely colt seven days before me, so I was very happy about that. She was the easiest mare to deal with and she has passed that on to this colt, he has been just like mum.”
The colt thrived in the lead-up to the sale.
“During the prep he just bloomed and matured. He has been very popular and we set very realistic reserves, he was actually on the market at $10,000 so to get what we did is very satisfying.
“From the inspections our confidence built and we thought he would go good and maybe reach 60 or 80 thousand, but to get $180,000 we are just so excited.”
“From the inspections our confidence built and we thought he would go good and maybe reach 60 or 80 thousand, but to get $180,000 we are just so excited.” - Mikayla Day
Beyond the sale price, the result is a significant boost for the Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds team.
“It enables us to keep going in this industry and it is a great fill-up for the girls at home who work unbelievably hard so we can get great results like this.”
#4. Colts bucking the recent trend
Throughout the 2025 sales season at Magic Millions and Karaka, fillies had been outperforming colts in terms of average price - a notable shift from the traditional trend. However, by the close of Day 1 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, the market appeared to have returned to familiar patterns.
At this sale, the trend is relatively typical, with many colts viewed as trade options rather than standout stallion prospects, while well-bred fillies continue to attract buyers due to their residual value.
From the 94 fillies offered on Day 1, 70 were sold, averaging $82,814. Meanwhile, 149 colts went through the ring, with 107 finding buyers at an average price of $111,163.
With two more days to go, the overall balance between colts and fillies could shift, but the difference in average prices from Day 1 is worth noting.
Interestingly, five of the top six lots at the close of the day were colts, headlined by Lot 183, a striking brown colt from Willow Park Stud who was secured by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $400,000.
#5. First Season sires holding plenty of appeal
Some of the numbers weren’t huge in terms of the quantity of lots sold on Day 1, but some of the statistics and figures reached by stallions presenting their first crop progeny was impressive. There will be more sold as we progress through the sale, but it is clear that quality is being rewarded.
Home Affairs continues to be in hot demand - he does have more numbers through the rest of the sale, but his two progeny to sell on Day 1 both went for $220,000; well above the $99,952 average for the sale so far.
Gallery: Two lots by Home Affairs were offered on day 1 and each fetched $220,000, images courtesy of Inglis
Sword Of State had one colt sell for $180,000 to MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd from the draft of Riversley Park in New Zealand, once again a fantastic result for Cambridge Stud’s exciting first-season sire.
Stay Inside carried on his momentum from recent sales this year as he produced three lots to sell on a Day 1 at a solid average of $110,000. Lot 86 his colt out of Burgundy Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) sold for $150,000 to Japanese interests Jewelry Piko Racing/Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA).
Widden Stud’s Portland Sky had one of his progeny sell on Day 1 from their own draft and he went for an outstanding $320,000 which was off his 2022 service fee of $25,000 (+ GST). The purchaser of this quality colt was Kurrinda Bloodstock/Doyle Racing.
The Group 1 Golden Rose winning son of Snitzel in Tiger Of Malay had an outstanding result with Middlebrook Valley Lodge's Lot 259 a striking chestnut colt selling for $220,000 to the bid of Red Crown Racing.
Top Buyers
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | VIC | 4 | $1,220,000 | $305,000 | $400,000 | $310,000 |
| Lindsay Park Racing / Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) | VIC | 3 | $540,000 | $180,000 | $240,000 | $150,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | QLD | 3 | $510,000 | $170,000 | $200,000 | $180,000 |
| Captain Tan | MALAYSIA | 4 | $435,000 | $108,750 | $170,000 | $92,500 |
| YLP Racing | VIC | 3 | $430,000 | $143,333 | $170,000 | $160,000 |
| Kearney Racing / D Springfield | NSW | 3 | $410,000 | $136,667 | $270,000 | $80,000 |
| Kurrinda Bloodstock / Doyle Racing | NSW | 2 | $410,000 | $205,000 | $320,000 | $205,000 |
| Blueblood Thoroughbreds | NSW | 7 | $407,000 | $58,143 | $130,000 | $50,000 |
| MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd | VIC | 2 | $350,000 | $175,000 | $180,000 | $175,000 |
Top Vendors by aggregate
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 40 | 9 | $1,225,000 | $136,111 | $260,000 | $170,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 45 | 11 | $1,113,000 | $101,182 | $320,000 | $55,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 18 | 5 | $1,060,000 | $212,000 | $360,000 | $180,000 |
| Riverstone Lodge, Blandford | 15 | 7 | $865,000 | $123,571 | $260,000 | $130,000 |
| Waikato Stud, Matamata, NZ | 8 | 4 | $690,000 | $172,500 | $230,000 | $165,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 26 | 5 | $690,000 | $138,000 | $240,000 | $120,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 37 | 4 | $650,000 | $162,500 | $350,000 | $110,000 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone | 16 | 5 | $640,000 | $128,000 | $400,000 | $60,000 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone | 31 | 6 | $581,000 | $96,833 | $220,000 | $72,500 |
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow | 7 | 5 | $545,000 | $109,000 | $240,000 | $60,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 5 | $1,060,000 | $212,000 | $360,000 | $180,000 |
| Waikato Stud, Matamata, NZ | 4 | $690,000 | $172,500 | $230,000 | $165,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 4 | $650,000 | $162,500 | $350,000 | $110,000 |
| Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | 3 | $480,000 | $160,000 | $220,000 | $160,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone | 3 | $420,000 | $140,000 | $180,000 | $130,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 5 | $690,000 | $138,000 | $240,000 | $120,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 9 | $1,225,000 | $136,111 | $260,000 | $170,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 3 | $390,000 | $130,000 | $180,000 | $140,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 3 | $390,000 | $130,000 | $220,000 | $120,000 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone | 5 | $640,000 | $128,000 | $400,000 | $60,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| The Autumn Sun | 5 | $1,000,000 | $200,000 | $260,000 | $170,000 |
| Farnan | 6 | $920,000 | $153,333 | $260,000 | $170,000 |
| Hellbent | 7 | $840,000 | $120,000 | $200,000 | $130,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 3 | $760,000 | $253,333 | $360,000 | $270,000 |
| Zousain | 8 | $740,000 | $92,500 | $180,000 | $82,500 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 3 | $650,000 | $216,667 | $400,000 | $130,000 |
| Cosmic Force | 6 | $635,000 | $105,833 | $150,000 | $130,000 |
| Harry Angel (IRE) | 7 | $595,000 | $85,000 | $190,000 | $60,000 |
| Star Turn | 3 | $480,000 | $160,000 | $350,000 | $80,000 |
| Exceedance | 4 | $475,000 | $118,750 | $220,000 | $110,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| I Am Invincible | 3 | $760,000 | $253,333 | $360,000 | $270,000 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 3 | $650,000 | $216,667 | $400,000 | $130,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 5 | $1,000,000 | $200,000 | $260,000 | $170,000 |
| Star Turn | 3 | $480,000 | $160,000 | $350,000 | $80,000 |
| Farnan | 6 | $920,000 | $153,333 | $260,000 | $170,000 |
| Toronado (IRE) | 3 | $395,000 | $131,667 | $180,000 | $175,000 |
| Hellbent | 7 | $840,000 | $120,000 | $200,000 | $130,000 |
| Exceedance | 4 | $475,000 | $118,750 | $220,000 | $110,000 |
| Nicconi | 4 | $442,000 | $110,500 | $200,000 | $105,000 |
| Stay Inside | 3 | $330,000 | $110,000 | $150,000 | $110,000 |
