Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
At the close of trade on the second day of the three day Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, 377 yearlings of the 540 catalogued (57 withdrawn for this section of the catalogue) had sold, compared to 397 at this point last year. The aggregate of $36,238,000 is down on 2024’s aggregate of $38,626,000. The clearance rate currently sits at 77 per cent, lower than the 83 per cent at this time last year.
The average at the end of Day 2 stood at $97,153, almost identical to 2024’s average of $97,295, with both down on 2023, where it rested at $107,369. There remains a bias to colts who currently average $104,842 while fillies are averaging $85,462 in 2025.
The median on Day 2 settled at $80,000, which has remained unchanged at this point for three years in succession.
The leading buyer by gross at the end of Day 2 is McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) who took their total spend to $1.66 million across a total of seven individual lots so far. They also lead by average, for buyers with two or more purchased, at $237,500.
Arrowfield Stud lead the vendors list by aggregate selling 20 yearlings over the first two days for a total of $2.65 million. On average (with three or more sold), Yarraman Park Stud have made a strong start to their classic account, averaging $193,000 for their seven to sell.
Hellbent leads the stallions by gross, accumulating a gross of $1.82 millions from his 16 lots to sell. By average (three or more sold), Written Tycoon has narrowly edged out I Am Invincible with the pair having end of Day 2 averages of $260,000 and $253,000 respectively.
#1. $440,000 Dundeel colt puts Hawthorne in mind of Super Seth
Arrowfield Stud’s stalwart Dundeel (NZ) headlined the second day of selling at Riverside with Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) going to $440,000 to secure Lot 455, a colt out of five-time winner Mother’s Mercy (Redoutes Choice), a three-quarter-sister to G1 Australian Oaks victress Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) and G2 Ian McEwen Stakes winner Baraqiel (Snitzel). Hawthorne wasn’t leaving without the colt, who reminded him heavily of Dundeel’s New Zealand-based sire son Super Seth.
“I bought Super Seth here at the same complex from the same draft,” Hawthorne told The Thoroughbred Report. “I saw him (Lot 455) earlier in the week, and I rang the boss and said, ‘I’ve found another one.’ Whether he is that remains to be seen, but I just loved him.
“Sons of Dundeel are really doing it at stud so we have been focusing on them, we've just waiting for the right ones to come along.
“I saw him (Lot 455) earlier in the week, and I rang the boss and said, ‘I’ve found another one.’ Whether he is that remains to be seen, but I just loved him.”
“I sneaked out the back and watched him in the parade ring, and he just got on with the job, which is what we like to see in a colt, so we were not going home without him.”
The combination of Dundeel over Redoute’s Choice is an appealing one, delivering to date seven stakes winners, led by Group 1 winners Super Seth and Celestial Legend, and a further 12 stakes-performers, which offers a tempting 10.6 per cent stakes horses to runners bred on the cross. Dundeel has enjoyed a productive first half of the racing season with five stakes winners headlined by star mare Konasana’s back-to-back wins of the G3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes and the G2 Westbury Classic at the end of January, and the emergence of several exciting colts, including G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner Red Aces and G1 Spring Champion Stakes runner-up Henlein.
For Hawthorne, the colt “stacked right up there” with Super Seth’s leading offspring that have come through the sales ring over the last few years.
Lot 455 - Dundeel (NZ) x Mother's Mercy (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“The physical rating was big on him, but the page was solid,” Hawthorne said. “He wouldn’t have gone amiss at Easter with that pedigree.”
Dundeel and Arrowfield Stud also offered the top-priced filly of the sale so far, coming within the last lots to go through the ring on the second day. Matt Laurie and ARJB Racing secured the daughter of Pretty Elsa (Exceed And Excel), a three-quarter-sister to emerging blue hen Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock), for $400,000.
“She is a lovely filly, bred and raised by Hermitage, our partners in The Autumn Sun,” said Arrowfield’s Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer. “She’s an outstanding type, a gorgeous filly. She could have slotted into any sale.
“Dundeel fillies are having a great run, and they are getting respected highly now, as well as the colts.”
Jon Freyer | Image courtesy of Inglis
The sire of 33 stakes winners to date, Dundeel currently sits third by aggregate amongst the sires represented in the Classic catalogue this year, having sold seven lots for a total $1.38 million and an average of $197,143. He is only beaten out by Hellbent, who has had 16 of his progeny sold so far, and barn fellow The Autumn Sun, who has sold 11. So far, he is averaging at a respectable 3.3 times the $60,000 (excluding GST for comparison) service fee that this crop were conceived at.
Dundeel achieved similar results at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale at the beginning of January, where eight of his 14 catalogued yearlings sold for an average of $166,875, where Resolute Racing paid the top price of $400,000 for a colt offered by Sledmere Stud, out of a unraced full sister to G3 Prix du Lys winner Volkan Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock paid a comparable price when securing his top lot at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale last month, paying NZ$450,000 to secure his son out of Grace Augusta (Declaration Of War {USA}), a half-sister to G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt) and multiple Group winner Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock), who was offered by Curraghmore. His six lots - evenly split between colts and fillies - all sold at Karaka, and averaged a respectable NZ$196,667.
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Hawthorne has found that the selling has continued to be competitive on day two, despite the pre-sale worries of many.
“The top lots are really selling well,” he said. “Everyone’s got to be happy. We were all expecting a big crash here, but it hasn’t happened. The good ones you’ve got to pay for. It’s a surprisingly good sale.”
#2. Cosmic Force: A force to be reckoned with
Deep Field’s exciting young sire Cosmic Force has made a promising start to his stud career, running at a 48 per cent winners to runners ratio and an impressive 10 per cent stakes performers to runners ratio, with the headline act being the very exciting three-time winner Give Me Space.
He was the winner of the G3 Vo Rogue Plate and, at his last start, ran second in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, which played a big part in him so far having earned a tick over $800,000 in his career - which, granted, is only just getting started in terms of earning ability.
Buyers have been keen to get their hands on Cosmic Force's progeny over Day 1 and 2 as both racing propositions as well as potential traders. From eight lots offered, he has had an outstanding 100 per cent clearance rate, and has managed a gross amount of $865,000, averaging a very healthy $108,125 off his conceived 2022 service fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
Cosmic Force | Standing at Newgate Farm
Jamie Beatson of Ohukia Lodge, a well known judge and well-respected for his ability to trade horses from yearling point to the breeze-up sales, purchased two colts by the young sire.
“They are really good types,” Beatson commented. "There are no more Deep Fields (to be born) and I think the Hong Kong market will like these ones. They love Deep Fields, so a son of him may potentially be a great thing. There have already been three or four Cosmic Forces (that have) headed over to Hong Kong and we just have to hope they go bang.
“I have bought them to take to the Ready To Runs. They look great types, look like racehorses, have a bit of size about them and will grow into nice horses.”
When discussing Lot 9, which Beatson purchased jointly with Jim Carey, he explained, “Jim knows a good horse when he sees one, we have had a couple together and hopefully we get a result out of this one.”
Lot 9 - Cosmic Force x Aghna (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Suman Hedge, another great judge, took a liking to the young sire.
“We purchased Lot 176 with Gavin (Bedggood), we have started doing some work with him, and he is a very promising trainer,” Hedge said. “He has developed a reputation for improving horses from other stables or that have had issues, but I think we have to change the narrative. He is straight out just a very good trainer.”
Hedge always does his homework at all sales and emphasised, “I have looked at every horse at the sales and I had him in the top five per cent in terms of movement, he had great balance and a lovely walk.
“We have bought him off Bhima and they have been having a great run on the track, Buying off the good proven farms gives you a great start.”
Lot 176 - Cosmic Force x Dream Child (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
In terms of the sire, Hedge commented, “I am very familiar with the Northern Meteor line and the attributes that the good horses from that line have. I like the stallion, he started from a low base but I have marked them well at all of the sales, generally they are good movers, attractive and have lots of presence.”
“I feel that with Hong Kong and Deep Field being so successful, maybe Cosmic Force can fill that gap. There could become an interesting angle with trading these types over there.”
#3. Private Harry combination join forces
At the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Kurrinda Bloodstock, in combination with Doyle Racing, purchased a Harry Angel (Ire) colt from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral Co for $115,000.
Fast forward two years and that colt has made a big impact, as he is unbeaten from four stars and has picked up a tick under $1.4 million in prize money. The same purchasers this year have picked up his half-sister by Captivant for $220,000, but this time Rheinwood have retained a share and are excited about the new combination.
Lot 274 - Captivant x Happy Pilgrim (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“The sale is wonderful and we are joining Kurrinda in the ownership of this filly,” Kirsty Willis, manager at Rheinwood, excitedly explained. “It’s so exciting as we have so much belief in this filly, and Private Harry is going to line up in The Galaxy.”
“We thought early on day two it was potentially going to be tricky, but it was not to be the case.” It is clear when talking to Kirsty that she has a lot of belief in this filly “It's going to be a ride as she is every bit as good as Private Harry. She’s so intelligent, she’s a ready made racehorse, and hopefully she will be in the Millennium next year.”
When asked how big this is for her team, she commented, “it’s pretty lifechanging, it's why we do what we do. We raise them to be athletes.”
“It’s pretty lifechanging, it's why we do what we do. We raise them to be athletes.” - Kirsty Willis
Rheinwood Pastoral's motto of 'bred in the cold, hot on the track’ is running true at the moment. Willis emphasised, “get involved, come racing with us and see the guys at Kurrinda. It's going to be a ride!”
Sean Driver, the Director and Bloodstock Manager of Kurrinda Bloodstock, was uncertain and not sure on how the bidding process would go.
“I didn't know what she would go for as at the end of the day," he said. "Private Harry doesn't have any blacktype, does he.
“He (Private Harry) is four from from, he has no blacktype, but he will be very hard to beat in March in The Galaxy. It will take a very good one to beat him, so you are probably banking on that.
Sean Driver | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Was she going to make 150, or was it going to be 300, I honestly didn't know. We dotted the i's and crossed the t’s and said, 'let's be active.' I treat a horse as a horse - if she didn't tick our boxes, we wouldn't have got her.”
When asked to describe her as a type and pedigree-wise, Driver explained, “to be frank, the pedigree is quite plain, I've got the half and he shows us enough, not to the Private Harry level, but enough. He’s by Anders and he has now been gelded. The mum just throws such good types, as a physical they are crackers.”
When comparing her to Private Harry, Driver said she had “identical bum, identical head, identical shoulder, she probably has more physical presence in terms of her girth.”
There is now more reason to look forward to Private Harry hitting the track again, as he can significantly increase the value of his half-sister. When quizzed on Private Harry’s exact plans, he excitedly explained, “he trials twice, then attacks The Galaxy first up before the TJ Smith.”
Private Harry | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
#4. Good friends get a great result
As the hammer was knocked down on Lot 312, it created a big sense of satisfaction and a nice cash boost to Sherah Sullivan and Bevan Smith.
The Ole Kirk colt was a great pinhooking result for the duo, that traded under the Sullivan Bloodstock and Bevan Smith Bloodstock banner, as they teamed up to purchase him for $70,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Fast forward to this week, and that colt caught the eye at the second day of the Classic sale, where Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott combined with Kestrel Thoroughbreds to secure him for $250,000.
Lot 312 - Ole Kirk x Iconista (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We were proud to bring him here,” Sherah Sullivan said. "He was good every time he was paraded. He is a lovely horse, he has a lovely action on him, and we knew we had a horse by the right stallion coming here.
“We thought 150 to 200 would be a great result, 250 is just massive, we are rapt. Also, it is the first time we have sold to Gai, and I am really excited about that. He is a really early type and that is obviously a good 2-year-old stable. I am excited to watch him progress.”
When asked about the link with Bevan Smith, Sullivan mentioned, “I always team up with Bevan, I'm normally selling weanlings myself, Bevan often does up the shortlist and then we collaborate to see what we buy.
“He's a big asset to me and we work really well together.”
Sherah Sullivan | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bevan Smith went on to comment, “very happy with the result, we took a punt buying a second season sire, but I liked some of Ole Kirk's first crop so I was willing and confident to take the punt.”
When asked to describe the weanling purchase and the yearling he has matured into, Smith described him as a “neat and sharp horse, even as a young horse.”
“He was always a great mover, a lovely walker. Ole Kirk kicking on has helped, and he has gone to very good trainers who should suit him.”
When asked about the partnership with Sherah Sullivan, Smith explained, “me and Sherah go way back and are great mates. It is so much more enjoyable this experience with friends, we talk daily and this is an extra rewarding result, we are very happy.”
#5. Gabbedy punting on "good running group mares make good broodmares"
The McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) team took a liking to Lot 329, a striking Prague colt that they purchased for $200,000 from the draft of Sledmere Stud.
He is out of the very talented mare Invincible Gem (I Am Invincible), who was a very quick mare, winning six times from 1100 metres up to 1600 metres including in the G2 Missile Stakes, G2 Emancipation Stakes, and the G3 Spring Stakes.
Damon Gabbedy from Belmont Bloodstock commented, “the mare was a seriously good mare, a dual Group 2-winning mare by I Am Invincible. We really want to buy yearlings out of outstanding race mares.”
Lot 329 - Prague x Invincible Gem (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
When asked about the stallion he mentioned, “Prague is unproven, but his oldest runners are only juveniles and he is a really highly rated son of Redoute’s Choice.”
Whether he had any exposure to the Prague stock, he answered, “no, we actually tried to buy one at the Gold Coast and missed out. We also missed out on a couple last year so we are happy to get this colt. He is an outstanding specimen.
“We think its a really good combination of speed from Redoute’s Choice and I Am Invincible. We looked back at him four times and he walked the house down every time. He has a lot of quality and we had a client that really wanted to buy him, we are very happy.”
“We looked back at him (Lot 329) four times and he walked the house down every time. He has a lot of quality and we had a client that really wanted to buy him, we are very happy.” - Damon Gabbedy
Summarising, Gabbedy said. "we think good running Group race mares make good broodmares, that's what we are punting on.”
Buyers by gross
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA), VIC | 7 | $ 1,662,500 | $ 237,500 |
| Kearney Racing / D Springfield, NSW | 8 | $ 1,175,000 | $ 146,875 |
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock, NSW | 5 | $ 785,000 | $ 157,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA), HONG KONG | 6 | $ 750,000 | $ 125,000 |
| Ohukia Lodge, NEW ZEALAND | 6 | $ 700,000 | $ 116,667 |
| MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, VIC | 4 | $ 680,000 | $ 170,000 |
| R Yiu, HONG KONG | 3 | $ 630,000 | $ 210,000 |
| Kurrinda Bloodstock / Nathan Doyle Racing, NSW | 3 | $ 630,000 | $ 210,000 |
| Blueblood Thoroughbreds, NSW | 8 | $ 627,000 | $ 78,375 |
| Darby Racing, NSW | 7 | $ 547,500 | $ 78,214 |
Buyers by average (2 or more)
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA), VIC | 7 | $ 1,662,500 | $ 237,500 |
| Byerley Bloodstock, WA | 2 | $ 440,000 | $ 220,000 |
| R Yiu, HONG KONG | 3 | $ 630,000 | $ 210,000 |
| Kurrinda Bloodstock / Nathan Doyle Racing, NSW | 3 | $ 630,000 | $ 210,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds, NSW | 2 | $ 370,000 | $ 185,000 |
| Lindsay Park Racing / Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ), VIC | 3 | $ 540,000 | $ 180,000 |
| Red Crown Racing, NSW | 2 | $ 340,000 | $ 170,000 |
| MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, VIC | 4 | $ 680,000 | $ 170,000 |
| Dabernig Bloodstock / Pinhook Bloodstock International (FBAA), VIC | 2 | $ 325,000 | $ 162,500 |
| Jewelry Piko Racing / Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA), JAPAN | 2 | $ 320,000 | $ 160,000 |
Vendors by gross
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 30 | 20 | $ 2,655,000 | $ 132,750 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 29 | 20 | $ 1,978,000 | $ 98,900 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 17 | 10 | $ 1,775,000 | $ 177,500 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 22 | 12 | $ 1,470,000 | $ 122,500 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone | 14 | 11 | $ 1,380,000 | $ 125,455 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone | 19 | 16 | $ 1,367,500 | $ 85,469 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 13 | 7 | $ 1,350,000 | $ 192,857 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 14 | 9 | $ 1,065,000 | $ 118,333 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa | 28 | 18 | $ 975,500 | $ 54,194 |
| Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | 13 | 9 | $ 970,000 | $ 107,778 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 13 | 7 | $ 1,350,000 | $ 192,857 |
| Willow Park Stud | 14 | 11 | $ 1,380,000 | $ 125,455 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 17 | 10 | $ 1,775,000 | $ 177,500 |
| HP Thoroughbreds, Hilldale | 3 | 3 | $ 530,000 | $ 176,667 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 4 | 4 | $ 655,000 | $ 163,750 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | 6 | 5 | $ 710,000 | $ 142,000 |
| Ridgmont, Segenhoe | 5 | 5 | $ 705,000 | $ 141,000 |
| Sullivan Bloodstock, Kialla East, Vic | 7 | 5 | $ 700,000 | $ 140,000 |
| Waikato Stud, Matamata, NZ | 7 | 6 | $ 840,000 | $ 140,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 30 | 20 | $ 2,655,000 | $ 132,750 |
Sires by gross
| Hellbent | 19 | 16 | $ 1,820,000 | $ 113,750 |
| The Autumn Sun | 17 | 11 | $ 1,510,000 | $ 137,273 |
| Dundeel (NZ) | 9 | 7 | $ 1,380,000 | $ 197,143 |
| Farnan | 17 | 12 | $ 1,310,000 | $ 109,167 |
| Stay Inside | 17 | 11 | $ 1,245,000 | $ 113,182 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 5 | 5 | $ 1,200,000 | $ 240,000 |
| Harry Angel (IRE) | 14 | 11 | $ 1,105,000 | $ 100,455 |
| Home Affairs | 9 | 8 | $ 1,080,000 | $ 135,000 |
| Zousain | 15 | 12 | $ 1,075,000 | $ 89,583 |
| All Too Hard | 12 | 7 | $ 875,000 | $ 125,000 |
Sire by average (3 or more sold)
| Written Tycoon | 8 | 3 | $ 780,000 | $ 260,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 3 | 3 | $ 760,000 | $ 253,333 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 5 | 5 | $ 1,200,000 | $ 240,000 |
| Dundeel (NZ) | 9 | 7 | $ 1,380,000 | $ 197,143 |
| Lucky Vega (IRE) | 5 | 4 | $ 760,000 | $ 190,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 17 | 11 | $ 1,510,000 | $ 137,273 |
| Home Affairs | 9 | 8 | $ 1,080,000 | $ 135,000 |
| Star Turn | 8 | 5 | $ 655,000 | $ 131,000 |
| Pinatubo (IRE) | 9 | 6 | $ 770,000 | $ 128,333 |
| Portland Sky | 7 | 4 | $ 510,000 | $ 127,500 |
