Cover Image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The sale finished with 75 mares sold for an aggregate of $42,545,000, up from $33,430,000 last year (when 71 sold), at a clearance rate of 74 per cent at the close of trade, compared to 83 per cent at the same point last year.
The average at the close of trade, $567,267, was also significantly up on last year’s ($470,071), and on the 2021 figure of $532,736.
The median sat at $375,000, up from $350,000 in 2022, whilst it was $330,000 in 2021.
Eight mares broke seven figures on Thursday evening, headed by the sale-record $3.6 million paid for Group 1 winner Nimalee (So You Think {NZ}) by Coolmore, from the draft of Glenesk Thoroughbreds.
The Newgate Consignment were the sale’s leading vendors, selling 15 mares for a total of $11.52 million.
Spending just over $4 million under Chatsworth Farm and a further $7.23 million under their investments tag (for a combined $11.29 million on eight mares), Yulong were the sale’s leading purchaser by far at this year’s Chairman’s Sale.
Top end holds strong
With the results on Thursday pointing to a strong top-end market once again this sales season, a total of eight millionaire mares went through the Riverside ring and helped push the metrics beyond 2022 and 2021 levels, in comparison to which middle and lower sections of the market this year have lagged.
Reflecting on an evening imbued with a sense of glamour and glitz by much effort on the part of the Inglis team, Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch termed the sale a success.
“It felt like a very appropriate way to celebrate the careers of a host of really high-profile race mares and broodmares,” he said. “That’s what we’ve ultimately intended the sale to become - a celebration of these mares.
“A lot of the interest we had in advance of the sale had us confident that we had a good sale. For the results to have played out the way they did was pretty spectacular, I’m delighted.”
A fitting sign-off for Nimalee
Some familiar names were responsible for the headline act on Thursday evening. Holding the record for an Inglis-sold mare at the $5 million they paid for Milanova (Danehill {USA}) back in 2008, Coolmore raised the Chairman’s sale record for the second year in a row when they secured G1 Queen Of the Turf S. winner Nimalee (So You Think {NZ}) for $3.6 million.
Nimalee setting a new Inglis Chairman's Sale record selling for $3.6 million | Image courtesy of Inglis
Having taken home Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) from last year’s sale for $2.7 million, conducting the bidding for Coolmore this year was their own Nominations and Sales Manager Colm Santry.
With Shout The Bar consigned by Glenesk Thoroughbreds, it is also the second consecutive year that Brett and Rachael Howard’s Hunter Valley farm has sent forth the record-breaker. And, it was full circle for the Howard’s, whose Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) picked out the mare at the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where she cost $270,000.
Bought back then for long-time clients Lester and Margaret Durney, she was sent to Matt Smith to train at Warwick Farm and would go on to earn $1.75 million in her 27-start career.
“It’s incredible, above expectations, for sure,” Smith said. “It is a trainer’s dream to have a horse like her and then to see her make that sort of money, it’s outstanding.
“It’s incredible, above expectations, for sure. It is a trainer’s dream to have a horse like her (Nimalee) and then to see her make that sort of money, it’s outstanding.” - Matt Smith
“She is a fantastic mare, a top mare on the track and they don’t come any better than her and she’ll make a great broodmare.”
Having bought the next two most-expensive mares in the sale, it was no surprise that it was Yulong who were responsible for pushing Nimalee’s price quite so high, landing the penultimate bid. Describing her as ‘The one the (Magnier) family really wanted’, there was a sense of relief on the face of Colm Santry following the hammer fall.
“It’s been quite tense up until now, but it’s been great and the sale’s been very strong,” Santry said. “There’s a lot of competition on the really good mares. We probably didn’t think we’d have to dig as deep for her, but the real ones like her you have to stump up.
“The Magniers like to buy the best mares, we valued her and we thought she was the best physical in the sale.”
Sold as a maiden mare who has yet to be covered, Santry indicated that there are a host of options available to Nimalee at Coolmore. Being a daughter of their own So You Think (NZ), he pointed to Wootton Bassett (GB), Justify (USA) and even, ‘in time’, to their recent G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Shinzo (Snitzel).
Wootton Bassett (GB) | Standing at Coolmore
Sparks fly early
The scene was set for the 2023 Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday evening by a flash mob dance routine, and as they dissipated the black tie-clad Inglis gang moved forward to kick off proceedings at Riverside.
After the sale began with a lifetime breeding right to Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (Ire) selling for $280,000 to Dream Thoroughbreds, the mares moved in and it wasn’t long before headlines were made.
The first million-dollar mare came at just Lot 5 as the former Grahame Begg inmate Dosh (Rich Enuff), a dual Group 3-winning juvenile, sold in-foal to the great Exceed And Excel, her maiden cover. Purchased by her trainer at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $155,000, she was owned during her racing career by a Begg-led syndicate, and was secured by Widden Stud on Thursday for $1.35 million, having been consigned through their draft.
Lot 5 - Dosh, the first million-dollar lot sold at the 2023 Inglis Chairman's Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
“A lot of Dosh, but we loved her,” Widden’s Antony Thompson laughed. “Obviously, she’s been at Widden, the owners, with Grahame Begg who trained her, sent her to Widden. Having her there we got to know her very well and we loved her, so did everyone else here.”
Noting that she will be sent to Widden’s roster-leading Zoustar for her next cover, Thompson added: “In my mind she was the nicest physical in the sale and (we) had to push the boat out a bit further than we hoped but we’re taking home the mare we love.”
Icebath lights up the show
It wasn’t long until the action heated up further, as the tough and talented G1 Empire Rose S. winner Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) stepped into the ring. As bidding tipped over one-and-a-half million a hush fell across the auditorium, which sustained until she was ultimately knocked down to Yulong for $2.3 million.
The second mare to break a million on Thursday, like Dosh she is also an Inglis Classic graduate, having been purchased at the 2018 edition for $100,000.
Icebath (NZ) sold for $2.3 million at the 2023 Inglis Chairman's Sale | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s a nice physical mare and obviously with a pedigree behind her,” said Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray. “She’s got some really nice blood in her family going back to Savabeel and Centaine, good broodmares sires so we’re really delighted to get her.”
Formerly trained by Brad Widdup, Fairgray revealed that Icebath was eyed up by Yulong during her racing career, and that now eventually secured, she will likely head to either Written Tycoon or Yulong’s recent acquisition, Pierata, for her maiden cover.
“Any racehorse that can earn over $5 million… She was fantastic and was placed in some very, very good races against some very good horses,” he added. “Hopefully she can pass that on to her progeny and we can bring them through to yearling sales in years to come.”
“Hopefully she (Icebath) can pass that on to her progeny and we can bring them through to yearling sales in years to come.” - Sam Fairgray
Montefilia to race on for Yulong
After bidding kicked off at $1 million, four-time Group 1 winner Montefilia (NZ) (Kermadec {NZ}) (Lot 30) soon became the second seven-figure purchase by Yulong on Thursday, with a final price-tag of $3.4 million.
Yet another star mare secured by My Zhang’s operation, Fairgray explained that the 5-year-old will stay in training, though may yet be moved from David Payne in favour of a Victorian-based trainer ahead of a Melbourne racing campaign next season.
“Mr Zhang wants to build a broodmare band with these elite mares and she’s an elite racehorse who will eventually join the broodmare band, so it’s fantastic for the farm and our stallions,” he said.
Montefilia (NZ) sold for $3.4 million at the 2023 Inglis Chairman's Sale | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Spending just over $4 million under Chatsworth Farm and a further $7.23 million under their investments tag (for a combined $11.29 million on eight mares), Yulong were the sale’s leading purchaser by far at this year’s Chairman’s Sale.
Explaining the vision of Mr Zhang, Fairgray likened Yulong’s investment in Australian breeding to the gradual transformation of Japanese bloodstock.
“When you’re trying to get mares like her you have to front up and pay, and I think Northern Farm were underbidders (on Montefilia). When you see what they’ve done with their elite broodmare band in Japan - they improved the genepool greatly by going around the world and pulling mares out of Australia, America and Europe.”
Rounding off the evening in the same vein, Yulong took home Lot 109, the Shamardal (USA) mare Berimbau. Raced by Godolphin to place at Group 2 level, she was sold through their 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale draft to Raffles Dancers for $180,000.
Berimbau was the final lot to sell for $1.8 million at the 2023 Inglis Chairman's Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
Now better known as the dam of five-time Group 1 star Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), the 11-year-old mare was sold to Yulong through the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds (who also consigned Imperatriz herself as a yearling) for $1.8 million.
Newgate on a high with star duo
Briefling holding the Chairman’s Sale record before Nimalee later surpassed her by $200,000, Montefilia was the second of two star mares consigned by Newgate Consignment on Thursday evening. Overall, Newgate was responsible for just over $11.5 of the sale’s total aggregate, selling 15 mares in total.
“We have some outstanding mares and we feel honoured and privileged at having been entrusted with them,” Newgate’s Henry Field told TDN AusNZ.
“What I found so interesting was the international participation and interest on those two mares. We had bidders on both of them from Europe, Japan… obviously, they were bought by Yulong from China but (they’re) a big Australian operation.
“...what a result for Mr Zhang to have bought mares of that quality. He is stockpiling pretty much every jewel that’s coming to market.”
“...what a result for Mr Zhang to have bought mares of that quality. He is stockpiling pretty much every jewel that’s coming to market.” - Henry Field
Godolphin reach across the Tasman
The sire of five Group 1 winners this season, a share in Proisir sold as Lot 101 on Thursday. In something of a surprise, the winning bid of $400,000 was struck by Godolphin Australia’s Managing Director Vin Cox. Sending mares across the Tasman might not be something Godolphin are famed for, but it’s not totally unfamiliar for them.
“We have in the past because we’ve got interests in stallions over there,” Cox told TDN AusNZ. “Contributer, Complacent, Belardo, Ribchester - we’ve got interests in those.
“Proisir is obviously a horse that’s doing an amazing job from a very low base. His numbers and his statistics are off the charts.
Proisir | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
“We’d already booked a few mares to him and they pulled us back to a couple, (so) an opportunity to get in to the horse as a shareholder was, we thought, a smart play.”
Now five years into his tenure at Godolphin, smart plays are something Cox can boast a history of throughout that time, not least in securing Group 1 winner In Secret (I Am Invincible) as one of their limited yearling purchases.
The breeding share in Proisir will guarantee Godolphin one nomination to the son of Choisir each year, plus a share in the profits from his remaining covers beyond the shareholders. With his fee increased to NZ$70,000 (plus GST) ahead of this spring, a quick stab at the maths points to a good bit of business - though perhaps only just…
Not prepared to admit his bidding limit, Cox added with a chuckle: “We were running on fumes.”
Lot 108 - Dashing Legend (Snitzel x Kneeling {Encosta De Lago}) - $1.6 million
Consigned by Newgate as agent for Bon Ho’s Legend Racing, 3-year-old filly Dashing Legend (Snitzel) was offered as a racing and breeding proposition. Bidding was fierce, but it was Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) who eventually acquired her for $1.6 million.
Dashing Legend | Image courtesy of Inglis
A Listed winner this season and Group 2-placed as a juvenile, Mills pointed to the filly’s future in the breeding barn when weighing the price against her race achievements, securing her for a client base which includes Heath Newton.
“Physically, she’s everything you could want; she’s fast, good-looking, by the right stallion and from a wonderful family,” Mills said.
“Anything else she can do on the racecourse is a bonus; it was more about getting her as a broodmare because we believe she can produce $1-million yearlings for the future.”
“Anything else she (Dashing Legend) can do on the racecourse is a bonus; it was more about getting her as a broodmare because we believe she can produce $1-million yearlings for the future.” - Sheamus Mills
A sister to the Listed winner Kneeling, Dashing Legend also hails from the family of the G1 VRC Derby and G1 Spring Champion S. winner Ace High, who now stands at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand.
The filly has been trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes at Rosehill, but will now be transferred to the Cranbourne stables of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Lot 102 - Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB} x Be Inspired (NZ) {Zabeel {NZ}}) - $1.1 million
Offered by Holbrook Thoroughbreds on behalf of prominent Western Australian breeder Bob Peters, the daughter of Reliable Man (GB) was expected to have plenty of admirers with her 10 race wins including the G1 Railway S.
Inspirational Girl (NZ) | Image courtesy of Inglis
With her high-level form confirmed when conquering Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in the G2 Blamey S., the 7-year-old mare was knocked down for $1.1 million to Yulong, under the alias Chatsworth Farm.
Lot 69 - Summerland (GB) (Dubawi {Ire} x Baisse {GB} {High Chaparral {Ire}}) - $1.1 million
A blue-blooded daughter of Darley Europe’s outstanding Dubawi (Ire), Summerland (GB) was offered by Arrowfield Stud carrying a cover to Frankel (GB), her first cover. The mare attracted plenty of attention, eventually knocked down for $1.1 million to Beagle Bloodstock.
Summerland (GB) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Although unraced, the 4-year-old is a half-sister to Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) who was campaigned internationally with distinction by Godolphin, winning the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket before being imported to Australia where he claimed the G1 Cantala S. and runner-up in several Group 1-contests.
Sires by aggregate
| So You Think | 2 | $3,900,000 | $1,950,000 | $3,600,000 |
| Kermadec | 1 | $3,400,000 | $3,400,000 | $3,400,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 6 | $3,035,000 | $505,833 | $825,000 |
| Snitzel | 4 | $2,675,000 | $668,750 | $1,600,000 |
| Sacred Falls | 1 | $2,300,000 | $2,300,000 | $2,300,000 |
| Shamardal | 2 | $1,950,000 | $975,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Dubawi | 2 | $1,775,000 | $887,500 | $1,150,000 |
| Sebring | 4 | $1,515,000 | $378,750 | $600,000 |
| Rich Enuff | 1 | $1,350,000 | $1,350,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Nicconi | 3 | $1,280,000 | $426,667 | $600,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | 15 | $11,520,000 | $768,000 | $3,400,000 |
| Glenesk Thoroughbreds, Mount Vincent | 6 | $5,375,000 | $895,833 | $3,600,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 6 | $3,565,000 | $594,167 | $1,350,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 7 | $2,685,000 | $383,571 | $825,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Scone | 7 | $2,585,000 | $369,286 | $525,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 3 | $2,335,000 | $778,333 | $1,150,000 |
| Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Scone | 3 | $1,925,000 | $641,667 | $1,100,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone | 1 | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 4 | $1,555,000 | $388,750 | $725,000 |
| Fernrigg Farm, Denman | 5 | $1,395,000 | $279,000 | $385,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Glenesk Thoroughbreds, Mount Vincent | 6 | $5,375,000 | $895,833 | $3,600,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 3 | $2,335,000 | $778,333 | $1,150,000 |
| Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | 15 | $11,520,000 | $768,000 | $3,400,000 |
| Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Scone | 3 | $1,925,000 | $641,667 | $1,100,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 6 | $3,565,000 | $594,167 | $1,350,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 4 | $1,555,000 | $388,750 | $725,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 7 | $2,685,000 | $383,571 | $825,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Scone | 7 | $2,585,000 | $369,286 | $525,000 |
| Fernrigg Farm, Denman | 5 | $1,395,000 | $279,000 | $385,000 |
Top buyers
| Yu Long Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd | 4 | $7,225,000 | $1,806,250 | $3,400,000 |
| Chatsworth Farm | 4 | $4,065,000 | $1,016,250 | $1,800,000 |
| Colm Santry Bloodstock / Coolmore Australia | 2 | $3,925,000 | $1,962,500 | $3,600,000 |
| Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $2,120,000 | $1,060,000 | $1,600,000 |
| Widden Stud | 1 | $1,350,000 | $1,350,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Kia Ora Stud Pty Limited | 2 | $1,300,000 | $650,000 | $700,000 |
| Beagle Bloodstock | 1 | $1,150,000 | $1,150,000 | $1,150,000 |
| Kingstar Farm | 5 | $1,130,000 | $226,000 | $280,000 |
| Lofty Group | 2 | $1,075,000 | $537,500 | $625,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | 2 | $925,000 | $462,500 | $525,000 |
Top lots
| 42 | Nimalee | So You Think | Dezign | Mare | Glenesk Thoroughbreds, Mount Vincent | Colm Santry Bloodstock / Coolmore Australia NSW | $3,600,000 |
| 35 | Montefilia | Kermadec | Bana Wu | Mare | Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | Yu Long Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd VIC | $3,400,000 |
| 20 | Icebath | Sacred Falls | Fabulist | Mare | Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | Yu Long Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd VIC | $2,300,000 |
| 109 | Berimbau | Shamardal | Percussive | Mare(+) | Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone | Chatsworth Farm VIC | $1,800,000 |
| 108 | Dashing Legend | Snitzel | Kneeling | Filly | Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) VIC | $1,600,000 |
| 5 | Dosh | Rich Enuff | Raise Up | Mare(+) | Widden Stud, Widden Valley | Widden Stud NSW | $1,350,000 |
| 69 | Summerland | Dubawi | Baisse | Mare(+) | Arrowfield Stud, Scone | Beagle Bloodstock NSW | $1,150,000 |
| 102 | Inspirational Girl | Reliable Man | Be Inspired | Mare | Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Scone | Chatsworth Farm VIC | $1,100,000 |
| 70 | Swats That | Shamus Award | Is it a Mosquito | Mare | Ciaron Maher Racing, Melbourne, Vic | Dermot Farrington Bloodstock Pty Ltd UNITED KINGDOM | $900,000 |
| 47 | Pantonario | Not a Single Doubt | Rhodamine | Filly | Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | Silverdale Farm / Andrew Williams Bloodstock NSW | $850,000 |
