It's a clear buyers' market, but the best lots still spark fierce bidding

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

At A Glance

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Last year saw a record day’s selling on the first day of the Inglis Weanling Sale in Sydney with the average price hitting $63,207. In 2025, the market was more measured with an average on day 1 of $53,426, which was up on 2023’s day 1 average of $49,735. The median returned to the 2023 figure of $30,000, down from the $36,000 achieved on day 1 of 2024.

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The clearance rate at the end of day 1 sat at 70 per cent, down from 76 per cent in 2024 whilst the aggregate of $9,242,750 (173 sold) was down on 2024’s $11,124,500 (176) but up on 2023’s figures of $8,156,500 (164 sold).

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Belmont Bloodstock’s purchase of the $650,000 sale topping Stay Inside filly put them as leading buyer by aggregate, while Equine Growth Fund was a leading buyer by average with two weanlings purchased at an average of $230,000.

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Noorilim Park led the vendors by average and aggregate on day 1, with sales of $1.06 million for four weanling sold at an average of $265,000.

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Stay Inside, selling his second crop, led the way by aggregate, with seven weanlings selling for $891,750, including the day’s sale topper, and leaving him with an average of $127,000. Hitotsu was the leading first season sire, selling two weanlings on day 1 for an average of $100,000.

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Last year saw five weanlings sell for more than $300,000 on day 1, while only one weanling achieved this in 2025.

Hutch suggests a buyers' market, but demand for top lots strong

Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch felt there were plenty of positives to come out of the day’s trade.

“Demand for stock that hits the bullseye for buyers seems particularly strong,’’ Hutch said.

“We had 28 weanlings sell for $100,000 or more, which is tracking well ahead of last year, and of the top 20 highest-priced foals, they were bought by 17 different buyers.

“Buyers have been very selective, which is in keeping with our expectations in advance of the sale, but the metrics for the sale are in line with the final result for the sale 12 months ago, which is encouraging.

“Outside of the very best weanlings, it has been a buyers' market and the expectation is that there will continue to be fantastic opportunities for buyers through the day tomorrow, when we have another nice group of weanlings to offer.

“Lot 367, the Too Darn Hot x Enbihaar colt, a brother to Too Darn Lizzie, is a particularly special offering and we are looking forward to seeing him go through the ring.’’

Hot demand for Too Darn Hot's progeny

The excitement surrounding Too Darn Hot (GB) had many predicting strong demand at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, and he certainly delivered on Day 1.

Fresh off the announcement that he will return to Darley Australia in 2025 at a service fee of $275,000 (inc. GST), after not shuttling for the 2024 season. The popular sire had five lots catalogued, with four selling for an aggregate of $680,000 and a robust average of $170,000.

The headline act for the sire was Lot 203, a well-credentialed filly out of Group 3 winner Vain Queen (Artie Schiller {USA}) who fetched $250,000 to the bid of Trilogy Racing Pty Ltd and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA).

“Too Darn Hot is taking all before him, he is one of the best young stallions in the world,” said Hedge.

“Fortunately, he is coming back to Australia this year. We have had a bit of luck with Too Darn Hot, we bought a filly from this sale last year and made a tidy profit.

“This one has a bit of pedigree, being out of a stakes-winning mare. I loved her as a type, very true as a type, and we were very keen to get her, and glad that we did.”

Also showing strong support for the red-hot sire were Sledmere Stud and Cangon Stud Farm, who joined forces to secure Lot 83, a colt out of Rockaroo (Fastnet Rock) for $200,000, and Lot 122, a filly out of Sheza Flyer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) for $120,000.

Royston Murphy of Sledmere Stud shared the thought process behind the partnership’s buying pattern:

“At these kinds of sales, we look for horses that we don’t have at home, and unfortunately, we didn’t use Too Darn Hot that season.

“We went for a couple and were lucky to get them. We think they were really good value, but time will tell with that statement. Potentially, the stallion looks very good and he could very well go on with the job, he deservedly went up in fee.

“When we are looking at horses, it is nice to look at potential and what stallions are doing and may do in the future, but at the end of the day if we like a horse, we put a value on it and we see how we go, and we got a few nice ones today.”

Kiwis make their presence felt on Day 1

New Zealand buyers made a strong impression on Day 1 of the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, with a host of familiar names active in the ring. Among those landing purchases were Kaha Nui Farm, Carlaw Park, Lyndhurst Farm, Woburn Farm, Riversley Park, Ed Stapleton Bloodstock, Mark Brooks, and Vermair Farm, underlining the confidence Kiwi operations have in sourcing young stock in Australia.

Respected pinhookers Marc and Sarah Devcich of Henley Park added to their growing reputation by securing three well-credentialed weanlings, each earmarked for development back home in New Zealand ahead of their yearling sale targets in 2026.

The couple picked up: Lot 47, a Hellbent filly for $70,000, Lot 87, a St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) filly for $50,000, and an eye-catching Written By colt for $140,000.

Gallery: Lots purchased by Marc and Sarah Devcich, images courtesy of Inglis

“We are really happy with our purchases,” said Marc Devcich from Henley Park.

“We will take them home, let them grow out, raise them, and then we will make a plan in terms of where we will place them for sale next year.”

Describing the Written By colt, Devcich said: “I think he will have major Hong Kong appeal. He has a really good page, and the dam is a half-sister to a stallion in Dirty Work.

“He is a great type, the sire is doing well in Hong Kong and domestically.

“He may be an ideal type to take to Melbourne for the yearling sale, but we will see, we were very happy to get him.”

The Hellbent filly that they purchased is the first foal of Polina (NZ), an unraced daughter of Darci Brahma (NZ), and Devcich was full of praise

“We loved her. Hellbent is doing a great job and we have had luck with him.

“She is a really nice first foal, and it’s a good tough family that is improving all the time.”

Devcich noted, “I really liked the profile of the St Mark’s Basilica filly. He was a Champion racehorse in Europe, and his progeny overall have been well-received here.

“This filly is a great type and her dam is a half to Little Brose, who was a Group 1 winner and now a stallion at Little Avondale Stud.

“She has a lovely action, and I’m sure she will grow out well.”

The New Zealand contingent has demonstrated their sharp eye for future talent over the years, and there’s little doubt that several of these young prospects will feature prominently in upcoming yearling and ready-to-run sales.

Farnan continues to fire

The first crop of Farnan has been burning up the track this season and in the yearling sales ring, and now that momentum has rolled on into the weanling sales.

On the back of his strong racetrack start, Kia Ora Stud has lifted his 2025 service fee to $77,000 (inc. GST). From limited runners, Farnan has already delivered nine winners, including North England, King Of Pop, and Recuperato, all of whom have become Group winners.

At the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, Farnan had eight weanlings offered on Day 1, with six selling for an aggregate of $655,000, averaging a healthy $109,166, a figure that reflects growing market confidence in the Golden Slipper winner’s stock.

Suman Hedge signed for the top-priced Farnan on the day, going to $210,000 for Lot 211, a striking filly from Erinvale Thoroughbreds. She is the first foal out of War Dame (Declaration Of War {USA}), herself unplaced on the track, but a half-sister to the smart Lady Of Honour (No Nay Never {USA}), she was a five-time winner including the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes and Listed Eye Liner Stakes. Another half-sibling, Our Couver (Vancouver), is a dual winner and was Group placed as a 3-year-old.

“He has been purchased for a private investor. She was such a good type and we kept on talking about her at home, so I’m glad we got her,” Hedge said.

“She is a great moving filly, very athletic, and an all-around lovely type.

“The stallion (Farnan) is doing all the right things and his service fee has gone up. We believe in the stallion and are very happy to get this filly.”

The filly adds to an already promising list of Farnan progeny making an impression in the ring and on the track. With his progeny demonstrating both precocity and commercial appeal, Farnan is well on track to cement his status among the most exciting young stallions in the country.

Toronado sales momentum continues

Toronado (Ire) has been a standout performer in the yearling sale ring throughout 2025, underlined by a milestone moment when he recorded his first $1 million yearling at the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. That colt, out of the stakes-placed All Too Hard mare Hardly Surprising, was offered by Gilgai Farm and secured by Andy Williams Bloodstock and Hong Kong Bloodstock for a cool $1 million.

That momentum has seamlessly carried into the weanling market, with two Toronado weanlings offered on Day 1, returning an impressive average of $190,000.

Lot 10, a striking colt out of Nette Rousse (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), was among the early highlights of the session. Offered by Vinery Stud, he was knocked down to Mark Renton for $200,000, setting the tone for the session.

Gallery: Lots by Toronado sold on the first day of the 2025 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, images courtesy of Inglis

Later in the day, Lot 182, a well-made filly out of Tayla’s Moment (Shalaa {Ire}) who was Group placed as a juvenile, was sold for $180,000 to Nicky and Nick White’s Kaha Nui Farm in New Zealand. She was offered by Milburn Creek.

Nicky White was delighted with the acquisition, describing the filly as an outstanding early-running prospect.

“I thought she was the best early 2-year-old type at the sale,” White said.

“The dam having that early speed really caught my attention, along with Shalaa, and Encosta De Lago being in the damline.

“Every time we saw her, it confirmed early and speed, she had a lovely nature and I think she will be a 2-year-old.”

When asked about Toronado’s current trajectory, White was bullish:

“I think he is in for an exciting next 12 months. All his best-bred progeny are coming through, and they have been very popular at the sales.”

With his strongest crops now filtering through to the market and early indicators pointing to continued commercial appeal, Toronado is shaping as a stallion to watch and maybe he can go even to a higher level.

Lot 120 – Stay Inside x Sheidel (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) filly – $650,000

Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock made a major statement on Day 1 of the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, going to $650,000, a new Inglis Weanling Sale record for a filly by exciting young sire Stay Inside.

Gabbedy was acting on behalf of co-breeder and owner Robert Crabtree, who now owns the classy filly outright.

Offered by Noorilim Park, the filly is the second live foal from the outstanding mare Sheidel (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a 15-time winner who claimed Group 1 honours in the Oakleigh Plate. She hails from a family rich in speed, with her half-sister Latoria (Oratorio) also proving her ability on the track, including success in the Listed Summer Scorcher Handicap.

Sheidel has returned to Stay Inside following the birth of this striking filly, having been served by the Golden Slipper-winning stallion again in November 2024.

Lot 187 - The Autumn Sun x The King’s Widow (All Too Hard), filly - $280,000

Lot 187, a quality filly by The Autumn Sun, was secured by Equine Growth Fund Pty Ltd for $280,000 during the middle of Day 1.

Offered by Rheinwood Pastoral Company, the filly is the third foal from The King’s Widow (All Too Hard), a winning daughter of Dowager Queen (NZ) (Savabeel), a three-time Listed winner and dual Group 1-placed mare who was a standout juvenile in New Zealand. This filly combines the classic depth of The Autumn Sun with a 2-year-old profile of a filly that trained on to place in a G1 Victoria Oaks at three, she looks to have plenty of upside, and potential versatility, making her one of the top-priced fillies through the ring.

The King's Widow since producing this filly was served by Maurice (Jpn) last September.

Lot 203 - (Too Darn Hot (GB) x Vain Queen (Artie Schiller {USA}), filly - $250,000

Lot 203 was the highest-priced filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) on Day 1, fetching $250,000 when purchased by Trilogy Racing Pty Ltd and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA).

The filly, offered by Rathmore Lodge, is out of Vain Queen (Artie Schiller {USA}), a five-time winner including the G3 Mumm Stakes. She represents an appealing combination of elite sprinting ability and the potent international sire power of Too Darn Hot, who returns to Australia this season at a fee of $275,000 (inc GST).

The purchaser Suman Hedge described the filly as “very true as a type” and highlighted her “stakes-winning dam” as a key factor in their pursuit.

Vain Queen after producing this quality filly was served by Rich Enuff last November.

Lot 66 – Harry Angel (Ire) x Ragazze (Snitzel) colt – $220,000

The progeny of Harry Angel (Ire) have been in hot demand this season, and Lot 66 was no exception, with CW (Yulong) going to $220,000 to secure the well-credentialled colt.

Out of the three-time winner Ragazze (Snitzel), the colt boasts a strong pedigree. Ragazze is a daughter of Listed winner Pravana (Anabaa {USA}), whose own dam, Pravda (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), was a triple Group winner and a top-class staying mare. This is a deep, proven family full of residual value and racing potential.

Ragazze after producing this strong colt was served again by Harry Angel.

Lot 211 – Farnan x War Dame (Declaration Of War {USA}) filly – $210,000

A strong sale for Farnan continued with Lot 211, a stylish filly purchased by Suman Hedge for $210,000 from the draft of Erinvale Thoroughbreds.

Out of War Dame (Declaration Of War {USA}), the filly hails from a family featuring black type performers Lady Of Honour (No Nay Never {USA}), a dual Listed winner, and Our Couver (Vancouver), a Group-placed two-time winner. Farnan's popularity continues to rise, and this filly shapes as a standout prospect.

War Dame after producing this filly was again served by the exciting Farnan.

Top Lots Day 1

Vendors on day 1 by aggregate

Vendors on day 1 by average (2 or more sold)

Buyers by gross day 1

Buyer by average (2 or more bought) day 1

Sires by gross day 1

Sires day 1 by average (2 or more sold)