A buoyant Australian Weanling Sale today concluded with a record gross, average and median as buyers from around the world homed in on the quality on offer at Riverside with Golden Slipper winner Shinzo again providing a highlight for the session when his colt from My Xanadu sold for $400,000.
On a significant two days of trade in Sydney, there were year-on-year increases on lots sold for both $100,000+ (58) and $200,000+ (21) while the average ($66,547) and median ($40,000) were both sale records and up 22% and 33% respectively year-on-year.
The current gross of $19,498,250 is also a record for the Australian Weanling Sale.
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch was thrilled with how the sale had played out over the past two days.
“As a team we have worked incredibly hard over the past five years especially to ensure new life was breathed into this sale and to see it perform the way that is has over the past two days is extremely satisfying, especially considering we offered 85 less weanlings than last year,’’ Hutch said.
“We asked breeders and vendors to support the sale with more quality and they have responded, so credit must go to them, we are incredibly grateful for their patronage and I’m so pleased to see the buying bench get behind the catalogue with such vigour and participate so strongly.
“To have buyers from the United Kingdom, Japan, Ireland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa and all around Australia participating in the Australian Weanling Sale is testament to the appeal of the catalogue.
“It’s not to say that there aren’t challenges in the market – very evidently there are – but very evidently the rewards are significant for those who present quality stock and the appetite for that stock was strong here over the past two days.
“This has been a really positive start to the week and we now look ahead to tomorrow night for The Chairman’s Sale, which is going to be a memorable evening both in and out of the sales ring.
“Results today and yesterday are a timely reminder of the significant returns that can be achieved through the weanling market and I think that is something that would be particularly pertinent for buyers to have in their mind when considering the variety of pregnant mares through the catalogue tomorrow night.”
The Day 2 top lot honours were shared between an I Am Invincible x Noor Sahara filly of Alma Vale and a Shinzo x My Xanadu colt of Coolmore, both of which sold for $400,000.
Peter Twomey of Wattle Bloodstock purchased the I Am Invincible filly for an Asia-based client but confirmed the horse would remain in Australia to race.
“The client races horses in England, New Zealand and Australia, he’s got a global view on things but this filly will stay here, she’ll head to Twin Hills now and Chris Kent and Olly Tait will look after her, they’re in Cootamundra just down the road from me in Wagga so I can keep a close eye on her which is perfect,’’ Twomey said.
“The client was here for the Easter Sale and we were able to buy one Frankel filly but we missed out on a lot of others so the aim for me coming to the Inglis weanling sale was to find an Easter-quality horse to race.
“We got beaten on the Frankel (ex Awhile) colt yesterday but this filly was our number one pick of the entire sale so we’re really happy and somewhat relieved to get her.’’
Alma Vale’s Verna Metcalfe described the result as “fabulous’’.
“You bring a nice horse here and you get really well rewarded,’’ Metcalfe said.
“She was the busiest horse in our draft, she had over 180 inspections and 21 X-Ray hits.
“She was a very good walker, very steady, she did everything right so we’re really rapt with this result.’’
The Shinzo colt result wrapped up a strong sale for Coolmore, whose stallions Home Affairs and Shinzo led the sires lists for both aggregate and average (for three or more sold).
“Shinzo had the sale topper on Day 1 and as we speak he’s got the sale topper on Day 2,’’ Coolmore’s Tom Moore said.
“While we had lofty expectations for his stock at this sale, he’s exceeded those. There’s plenty of high-class Shinzo’s on the complex, they’ve gone down incredibly well with the buying bench.
“There was a lot of competition on this particular colt, he was popular all week and he sold extremely well. There’s a strong appetite for quality offerings at this sale and we feel there weren’t too many better than him on the ground.’’
Fairhill Farm were the leading vendor by aggregate selling 18 weanlings for $1,976,000 with their top seller the half-brother by Harry Angel (IRE) to Group I winner Hayasugi that sold for $360,000 on Tuesday.
Mike O'Donnell and his team had another big result on Wednesday when selling the half-sister by Zousain to Group III winner Napoleonic and SW Ready Set Sail for $320,000. From top producer Jolie Brise, who has had seven foals to race all winners, the filly was bought by Stefan Pardi's SP Thoroughbreds, so will no doubt reappear at an elite yearling sale next year.
To enquire about a passed in lot from either day of the Australian Weanling Sale, contact Will Gardner on 0480 515 694.
The Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series reaches its crescendo tomorrow night with The Chairman’s Sale, where 115 lots are catalogued for what is set to be another memorable night of selling.
Among the Chairman’s highlights are the G1 Goodwood Handicap winner Benedetta, triple G1 winner Provence, millionaire mare Arabian Summer, quality race fillies and mares such as Philia, Ahha Ahha, Appin Girl, Cashel Palace, Cosmonova, Dark Glitter, Eternal Flame, Good Banter, Infancy, Jennilala, Just Feelin’ Lucky, Mare Of Mt Buller, Miss Icelandic, Snow In May, Terra Mater, The Black Cloud, The Playwright, Tiger Shark etc, three mares in foal to – and a share in – freak stallion Extreme Choice, Aeliana’s half sister Sunshine In Capri, Classique Legend’s half sister I Am Famous, as well as the dams of three of the four G1-winning 2YOs in Australia this season in Advance Party (Fireball), Flamboyant Lass (Guest House) and Zouper Star (Streisand) plus the dam of G1-winning 2YO Captured By Love.
The Chairman’s Sale begins at 4pm at Riverside.
To view the catalogue CLICK HERE.
Breeding sales action then heads to Melbourne for the Great Southern Weanling Sale, for which entries must close tonight.
To enter CLICK HERE.
2026 AUSTRALIAN WEANLING SALE STATISTICS (2025 stats in brackets)
Offered: 380 (465)
Sold: 293 (353)
Clearance: 77% (76%)
Average: $66,547 ($54,371)
Median: $40,000 ($30,000)
Gross: $19,498,250 ($19,192,950)
