Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
At the completion of trade on Thursday, 140 weanlings sold for an aggregate of $5,801,000, with the clearance rate being 66 per cent. The average price was $41,436, while the median finished at $20,000. It is anticipated that these figures will change, as more lots are expected to be sold.
Last year, at the close of play, the gross was $7,467,000, the average was $47,561, the median sat at $25,000, with the clearance rate being 71 per cent. However, after more weanlings were sold, those numbers were adjusted; the gross finished up at $7,776,000, the average fell to $43,200, the median $21,000, while the clearance rate improved to 81 per cent.
Going back to 2021, the Day 1 gross was $6,160,750, with the average being $35,204, the median $18,000 and the clearance rate 76 per cent.
The headline act was Lot 64 - a Frankel (GB) filly from the Burnewang North Pastoral draft. She was knocked down to James Mitchell of Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) for owner Stephen Spiteri for $825,000 - a new record price for a weanling offered at an Inglis sale.
A total of four weanlings - three of them fillies - made at least $200,000.
Burnewang North finished up as the leading vendor (by aggregate and average), with their six weanlings that sold grossing $1,560,000 (at an average of $260,000).
The leading sire by average (three or more lots sold) was So You Think (NZ). He had four lots sell for a combined $400,000 - an average price of $100,000. Toronado’s (Ire) average was $73,750 for his four weanlings that sold on Day 1.
Moroney to train record-breaking Frankel filly
Much of the talk ahead of this year’s sale centred around Lot 64 - a filly from the Burnewang North draft, by global sire sensation Frankel (GB), from the unraced Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Vedema (Fr).
And the hype was well and truly justified, with the filly realising $825,000. That figure smashed the previous record amount for a weanling sold by Inglis, which was jointly held - $625,000 - by a filly by More Than Ready (USA) out of Milanova (Danehill {USA}), who was knocked down to Colm Santry Bloodstock from the Tyreel Stud consignment at the 2008 Inglis Australian Select Weanling Sale, and Captivant’s brother, who was bought by China Horse Club / Newgate / Go / Trilogy from the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds Dispersal Sale consignment at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Lot 64 - Frankel (GB) x Vedema (Fr) (filly) sold for $825,000 at the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
The previous record for a weanling at this sale was a colt by Zoustar from Vergara (Snippetson), which fetched $360,000 in 2021. He was offered by Blue Gum Farm and bought by BBT Breeding and Racing.
And Written Tycoon made $625,000 at the 2009 Inglis Great Southern Sale. He was signed for by David O’Callaghan, who purchased the stallion on behalf of Eliza Park and a number of other existing clients.
The Frankel filly was secured by Melbourne-based property developer Stephen Spiteri, after James Mitchell of Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) did the bidding on his behalf, and will be trained by Michael Moroney.
“She’s an outstanding filly by arguably one of the best stallions in the world. He’s done the job in the Northern Hemisphere and he’s also done it down here with Hungry Heart, Miss Fabulass… he’s an outstanding sire worldwide,” Mitchell said.
“She’s (Lot 64) an outstanding filly by arguably one of the best stallions (Frankel) in the world. He’s done the job in the Northern Hemisphere and he’s also done it down here with Hungry Heart, Miss Fabulass… he’s an outstanding sire worldwide.” - James Mitchell
“She’s a beautiful filly from a fantastic farm.
“The owner, Stephen, he loved her from the minute he saw her.
“I thought we were out two or three times, but he stuck to his guns and had that one last bid, which I didn’t think we were having, but anyway. It’s a great thrill for Stephen and I’m sure he’ll have a lot of fun with the filly.”
Mitchell confirmed the plan is for Spiteri to race the filly.
“Yeah, that will be an end-user job. She will go back to a farm in Victoria and grow out. There are no further plans than to let her grow out in a paddock somewhere. No doubt she will only improve and just continue to be outstanding, as she has been the whole way along,” he explained.
The filly hails from a lovely Aga Khan family that boasts plenty of black type. Among the stakes winners is the French Champion 3-year-old Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) - a two-time Group 1 winner and runner-up in last year’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Vadeni (Fr) | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Vedouma (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) is the filly’s second dam and she won in Listed grade and is a sister to the Group 2 scorer Vadamar (Fr).
Other stakes-winning relations include Vadamar (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain {USA}).
“She’s out of an Invincible Spirit mare, from a big European family, so the residual value is there and was from the minute she was born,” Mitchell commented.
“She’s (Lot 64) out of an Invincible Spirit mare, from a big European family, so the residual value is there and was from the minute she was born.” - James Mitchell
“Hopefully, she can add to it on the racetrack and she would be a great addition to any broodmare band.”
Asked if he thought the filly would fetch $825,000, Mitchell said: “Not really. I thought we would be paying between $500,000-$600,000. Stephen made the call at the end of the day - I was just doing the bidding - and he’s thrilled to have bought her.”
Frankel’s progeny were well sought-after at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Weanling Sale, with the two colts selling to Yulong Investments for a combined $1,650,000 (at an average of $825,000).
Mitchell was asked how this filly compares to that duo.
“Physically, I thought she was better,” he said.
“Obviously, being a filly she wasn’t going to make as much as the colts did, but on the world stage, as the auctioneer Jonathan D’Arcy mentioned, it stacks up pretty comparably; she’s got huge residual value, she’s got a whole racing career ahead of her.
“If she’s true to type, she should be a pretty handy racehorse.”
Burnewang North's Cathy Hains was thrilled with the result, admitting the sale price exceeded expectations.
“Myself and the team are absolutely delighted. She was a really gorgeous filly and we got a great result. It was really something special,’’ Hains said.
“Myself and the team are absolutely delighted. She (Lot 64) was a really gorgeous filly and we got a great result. It was really something special.’’ - Cathy Hains
“It’s old-fashioned to say that the proof of the pudding is always in the pudding so we kept our expectations under control and certainly what happened in the ring today exceeded our expectations. We had what we believed was a realistic reserve well below what she achieved.
“It’s a huge moment for all of us. There were certainly a lot of nerves and enthusiasm and excitement when she got through the ring.
“She was received very well all week. She’s a total professional, paraded well, and often, all week and got the right kind of attention accordingly.
Lot 64 with the Burnewang North team at the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I’d like to thank all of the team at Burnewang and also thank Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman, who were integral in us purchasing Vedema privately overseas and we then put her in foal Southern Hemisphere time, and this is the result.’’
Vedema was covered last spring by Kia Ora Stud’s Golden Slipper S. hero Farnan.
Lone Zoustar weanling provides great result for Grenville Stud
At last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Grenville Stud parted with $180,000 for Donelle (Not A Single Doubt), who was in foal to Zoustar. The stakes performer was a member of the Newgate Consignment and was signed for by Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA)/Tubba Bloodstock.
That investment has already paid dividends with the resulting foal, a filly, making $280,000 on Thursday. After a spirited bidding war, it was Blackridge Farm that won the day.
“It was an amazing result. She was a very popular filly, she was the only Zoustar here in the catalogue, so we knew she was going to be well received. She had plenty of inspections and second looks, so we knew we had a nice article on our hands but you just never know where the market’s going to value them,” said Grenville Stud’s Bart McCulloch.
Lot 180 - Zoustar x Donelle (filly) sold for $280,000 at the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Obviously, Zoustar’s doing a wonderful job and we just felt coming here and bringing two horses across that were going to stand out, by Zoustar and So You Think, was the right strategy but you never know until they go through the ring.
“We were overwhelmed with the result. It was quite a battle from $200,000 onwards with either side of the ring exchanging blows. We just sat back and enjoyed it.
“She actually stopped at about $140,000 and I thought, ‘This isn’t ideal’, and that might have been where she stopped but she continued to go through to $280,000.”
“We were overwhelmed with the result. It was quite a battle from $200,000 onwards with either side of the ring exchanging blows. We just sat back and enjoyed it.” - Bart McCulloch
Donelle is currently in foal to Ole Kirk.
“She is a lovely Not A Single Doubt mare, a typical Not A Single Doubt mare, but with a little bit more leg than most Not A Single Doubts,” McCulloch added.
Lovely Written Tycoon filly heads to Yulong
There is no secret that Yulong Investments is a huge fan of progeny by both Written Tycoon and Frankel, so it was hardly a surprise when it parted with $250,000 for Lot 181 (under the Chatsworth banner).
The filly, who was offered by Burnewang North, is by Yulong’s resident stallion Written Tycoon, from Dragoness (GB) - a winning Frankel mare. Dragoness is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Al Thakhira (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Lot 181 - Written Tycoon x Dragoness (GB) (filly) sold for $250,000 at the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
The unplaced Dahama (GB) (Green Desert {USA}) is the filly’s second dam and she is a three-quarter sister to Bezrin (USA) and a half-sister to the stakes performer Flamelet (USA) (Theatrical {Ire}) and Firemaid (USA) (Machiavellian {USA}). The latter is the dam of the former top-class mare Shamal Wind (Dubawi {Ire}) - a Group 1 scorer.
Ten Sovereigns (Ire) - a dual Group 1 winner and Champion 3YO Sprinter in Europe, Great Britain and Ireland - also features on this filly’s page.
Dragoness was not served in 2022.
Kingman colt bound for Hong Kong
Lot 11 - a colt by Kingman (GB) from the Burnewang North draft - was purchased by Hong Kong-based owner Victor Lee for $240,000.
The colt is also from a family with a strong Aga Khan influence. He is the first foal of Sidona (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) - a winner at two over 1600 metres in Germany and a half-sister to the Group 3 victor Sirjan (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}).
Lot 11 - Kingman (GB) x Sidona (GB) (colt) sold for $240,000 at the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
His grandam, Sortilege (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), was a star, winning in top company and being named Champion Older Female in Germany and Italy in 2012. Sortilege is a half-sister to the four-time scorer and Group 3 victress Soudania (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), as well as the stakes performers Sahelian (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Sosia (Ger) (Shamardal {USA}). The latter is the dam of the stakes winners Anasia (GB) (Intello {Ger}) and Copie (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Price pleased with Day 1 results
James Price - Inglis’ Victorian bloodstock manager - said Thursday’s results met expectations.
“Yeah, it did. I think we were all well aware that in Sydney and the Gold Coast, people were very selective and people are willing to pay a premium price if the quality is there,” he remarked.
“Obviously, it’s a very selective market and a number of buyers are here to pinhook into the yearling market in 2024, so I would daresay vetting and x-rays have been crucial at this sale and horses that don’t check out have been left behind, so to speak.”
James Price | Image courtesy of Inglis
As has been the norm in 2023, the high-end of the market was again strong, while the lower end faced its challenges.
“There’s no doubt we’d like the bottom end of the market to be stronger than it is, but we will do our best to try and get some of those horses sold. There’s no doubt there is a tightening in the market in that bottom-end,” Price said.
“I think (Thursday’s) market again highlighted that the buying bench wants a particular product and they’re willing to pay top-dollar for that product.
“I think (Thursday’s) market again highlighted that the buying bench wants a particular product and they’re willing to pay top-dollar for that product.” - James Price
“The $825,000 Frankel filly is the highest-priced horse we’ve ever sold here at the Great Southern Sale, interestingly beating Written Tycoon when he was sold at the Great Southern Sale. And she’s the most expensive weanling Inglis has ever sold and the highest-priced weanling filly sold in 2023. To achieve that for Burnewang North, Cathy Hains and the whole team, I’m just over the moon for the farm and over the moon for the sale.”
The second and final day of trade for the 2023 edition of the sale will continue Friday from 10am.
Top buyers
| Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $875,000 | $437,500 | $825,000 |
| Blackridge Farm | 1 | $280,000 | $280,000 | $280,000 |
| Chatsworth | 1 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| L Lee | 1 | $240,000 | $240,000 | $240,000 |
| Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Riverstone Lodge | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
| Bleakley Bloodstock Limited | 1 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 |
| Noorilim Park Thoroughbreds / Weanling Solutions Pty Ltd | 1 | $140,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 |
| B Clarke | 1 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| Cheltenham Stables | 2 | $200,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 |
| Bevan Smith Bloodstock Australia Pty Limited | 1 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Burnewang North Pastoral, Rochester | 6 | $1,560,000 | $260,000 | $825,000 |
| Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas | 2 | $440,000 | $220,000 | $280,000 |
| Rushton Park, Tatura | 8 | $393,500 | $49,188 | $100,000 |
| Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Eddington | 10 | $339,000 | $33,900 | $80,000 |
| Esker Lodge Australia, Beremboke | 6 | $325,000 | $54,167 | $90,000 |
| Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | 5 | $300,000 | $60,000 | $100,000 |
| Ponderosa Park, Nathalia | 11 | $291,000 | $26,455 | $80,000 |
| Bell River Thoroughbreds, Glen William, NSW | 3 | $277,000 | $92,333 | $170,000 |
| Lemrac Lodge, Winchelsea South | 4 | $266,000 | $66,500 | $140,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | 10 | $217,000 | $21,700 | $75,000 |
Vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Burnewang North Pastoral, Rochester | 6 | $1,560,000 | $260,000 | $825,000 |
| Grenville Stud, Whitemore, Tas | 2 | $440,000 | $220,000 | $280,000 |
| Bell River Thoroughbreds, Glen William, NSW | 3 | $277,000 | $92,333 | $170,000 |
| Shadowbrook Bloodstock, Drouin West | 2 | $150,000 | $75,000 | $80,000 |
| Lemrac Lodge, Winchelsea South | 4 | $266,000 | $66,500 | $140,000 |
| Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | 5 | $300,000 | $60,000 | $100,000 |
| Esker Lodge Australia, Beremboke | 6 | $325,000 | $54,167 | $90,000 |
| Rushton Park, Tatura | 8 | $393,500 | $49,188 | $100,000 |
| Leneva Park, Longwood East | 2 | $80,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 |
| Widden Stud, Riddells Creek | 3 | $108,000 | $36,000 | $90,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Frankel | 1 | $825,000 | $825,000 | $825,000 |
| So You Think | 4 | $400,000 | $100,000 | $160,000 |
| Toronado | 4 | $295,000 | $73,750 | $90,000 |
| Zoustar | 1 | $280,000 | $280,000 | $280,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 1 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| Kingman | 1 | $240,000 | $240,000 | $240,000 |
| Spirit of Boom | 2 | $230,000 | $115,000 | $140,000 |
| Blue Point | 3 | $180,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 4 | $175,000 | $43,750 | $60,000 |
| Farnan | 1 | $170,000 | $170,000 | $170,000 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Spirit of Boom | 2 | $230,000 | $115,000 | $140,000 |
| So You Think | 4 | $400,000 | $100,000 | $160,000 |
| Zousain | 2 | $170,000 | $85,000 | $90,000 |
| Toronado | 4 | $295,000 | $73,750 | $90,000 |
| Dundeel | 2 | $140,000 | $70,000 | $120,000 |
| Blue Point | 3 | $180,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Anders | 3 | $153,000 | $51,000 | $120,000 |
| Star Turn | 2 | $100,000 | $50,000 | $80,000 |
| Maurice | 2 | $95,000 | $47,500 | $80,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 4 | $175,000 | $43,750 | $60,000 |
