Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale concluded a strong week with a smaller catalogue than in 2024 where 170 of 219 mares were sold at 70 per cent clearance rate. In 2025, 53 of the 106 mares catalogued sold with a post-sale clearance rate of 64 per cent. This will likely rise in the coming days.
The sale grossed $3,507,000, down on last year’s $7,592,500 due to a much smaller catalogue and number of horses sold. The average was up to $66,170 from $59,783 in 2024, and the median was up to $46,000 from $45,000 in 2024.
Across the week, the gross hit a record $77,060,150 over the Australian Weanling Sale, Chairman’s Sale and Australian Broodmare Sale, beating the previous record of $65,973,000 set in 2023.
Lime Country Thoroughbreds sold the sale topper Zelify (Snitzel) for $280,000, which was up on last year’s sale topping price of $240,000. In 2024, 25 mares made six figures, and this was lower in 2025 with 13 mares selling for the benchmark figure or above.
Snitzel was the most successful stallion by aggregate ($775,000 for seven sold).
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds were the biggest sellers with 14 lots sold for $1.2 million whilst Lime Country Thoroughbreds led the way by average ($177,500 for two sold).
Sale topper part of a big week for Lime Country
It has been a busy week for Lime Country Thoroughbreds juggling the roles of vendor and buyer and the Blandford based farm has done a great job with that, selling and buying a nice group of horses.
With one of those being Friday's highest seller at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, Lot 241 fetching $280,000 compared to the $115,000 she cost Lime Country three years ago.
The 7-year-old mare Zelify (Snitzel) was sold to Jayven See's Omen Bloodstock in foal to the leading first season sire Ole Kirk who stood at $55,000 (inc GST) at the time of conception, the Vinery Stud based dual Group 1 winner commanding $99,000 (inc GST) this spring.
“For all we know, he could be $200,000 next year,” Lime Country's Jo Griffin said. “She is part of our trading partnership and unfortunately, as per the agreement, we have to put them through every two to three years.”
Griffin is looking forward to seeing how Zelify's first foal, “a lovely Pierro filly”, fares in the ring; "we will be offering her next year.”
Griffin was not surprised to see Zelify prove popular, noting that “we brought her to this sale to stand out”.
Zelify - Lot 241 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Her September 21 service to Ole Kirk, Griffin said, made her an enticing prospect for buyers.
“I think there are only seven early covers, due in August or September, by the stallion being offered at public auction,” she said.
And she is confident that Zelify's new owners will do well with her.
“I think her progeny will walk into any sale,” she said.
“I think her (Zelify) progeny will walk into any sale.” - Jo Griffin
Zelify fit the criteria in regards to the sort of mare Lime Country seek, being a four-time winner, a dual metropolitan winner, and a full sister to a stakes winner; the G3 Aspiration Handicap winner Elle Lou (Snitzel).
“They are all the parameters we look for when shopping for mares and we mate them to stallions, like Ole Kirk, whose progeny we'd be very, very happy to offer for sale ourselves.”
Jo Griffin | Image courtesy of Inglis
Describing the Inglis sales as “a good, strong week”, Griffin was happy as vendor and buyer, selling five weanlings at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, including a $180,000 All Too Hard filly whilst buying, for $340,000, an Anamoe filly out of the Listed winner Eawese (Sebring).
“We were very happy to sell all our foals. We only bought good foals and we were well rewarded, and I think everyone will do well with them.”
“We only bought good foals and we were well rewarded, and I think everyone will do well with them.” - Jo Griffin
Lime Country also secured a nice mare at the Inglis Chairman's Sale for $300,000, taking home Cranberries (Nicconi), a half-sister to the G1 Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann (Lonhro) served by Street Boss (USA).
“We bid on a number of mares over a million dollars and still missed out!,” Griffin said, still very happy with what she ended up with.
“We absolutely love Cranberries, she is in the same style as Festivity (I Am Invincible) who we paid $85,000 for.”
Cranberries | Image courtesy of Inglis
Secured at this same sale two years ago, Festivity provided Lime Country with a $750,000 Farnan colt at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. One of the seven-figure mares Griffin unsuccessfully bid on was her $1.55 million daughter Semana (Winning Rupert).
The next two at $200,000
The next two best sellers both fetched $200,000, Lot 263 Dubai Diva (Pride Of Dubai) and Lot 242 Abu Simbel (I Am Invincible) finding new homes; the former purchased by Keith Lam Racing and H Tang, and the latter by SP Bloodstock.
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds sold Dubai Diva on behalf of clients and Verna Metcalfe was happy with the result, noting the appetite for young mares in foal to fashionable young stallions.
Dubai Diva - Lot 263 | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She is a lovely mare and I think for $200,000 she was good buying,” she said of the 6-year-old who was sold in foal to Newgate Farm's G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Stay Inside.
“There is a bit of a boom on Stay Inside which helped the sale," she said, noting that overall the day was a tough one.
“We did well, but some mares were hard to sell," she said, though still on a high from a big night at the Chairman's where all six of Alma Vale's mares sold for an average of $313,333 and an aggregate of $1.88 million.
“I have to say that Inglis have done a great job with this sale, they have worked really hard on getting buyers involved.”
Verna Metcalfe | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Inglis have done a great job with this sale, they have worked really hard on getting buyers involved.” - Verna Metcalfe
A talented race mare who won four of her nine starts (and was never out of the placings), Dubai Diva was a $100,000 yearling who earned black-type with a Group 3 placing. Her dam is the Listed winner Mae Jinx (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) from the family of Storm Cat (USA) and Royal Academy (USA).
The other $200,000 mare, Abu Simbel, was sold by Astute Bloodstock. She also fit the bill in regards to youth and a commercial mating, the lightly-raced 6-year-old carrying her second pregnancy, to Harry Angel (Ire).
Abu Simbel - Lot 242 | Image courtesy of Inglis
The daughter of I Am Invincible was a $320,000 Easter yearling who was purchased by Astute Bloodstock two years ago for $100,000 in foal to Blue Point (Ire). She is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Reformist (Dissident) out of the Listed-winning sprinter Siwa Lady (Gonski).
This is a family that was in the headlines on Thursday evening with its Group 3 and Listed-winning member Estriella (also by I Am Invincible) selling at the Chairman's Sale for $2.8 million.
Alma Vale offers another enticing mare
The day's fourth biggest seller was also from the draft of Alma Vale; Lot 229 Tomorrow's Dream (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) bought by Boomer Bloodstock for $180,000.
Not currently in foal, she is a stakes-placed winner at Goodwood. Her first foal, a colt by Exceed And Excel, was purchased by Gollan Racing and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $320,000 at this year's Magic Millions, and her latest foal is a colt by Blue Point.
Tomorrow's Dream was originally purchased by Boomer Bloodstock and Musk Creek Farm for 150,000gns ($326,000) at the 2021 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.
Tomorrow's Dream (Fr) | Image courtesy of Inglis
She is a half-sister to the German Listed winner Daydream Express (GB) (Kingman {GB}) out of a daughter of the dual Group winner Irresistible Jewel (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) whose three stakeswinners include the G1 Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond (Ire) (King's Best {USA}) and the dam of the Japanese Group 1 winner Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Rounding off the top five by sales price was Lot 208, Princess Amelie (Snitzel), who was sold by Davali Thoroughbreds on behalf of Bell View Park Stud to Beaufort Downs for $170,000.
A Group 3-placed five-time winner in New Zealand, Princess Amelie is another nice young mare in foal to Stay Inside; her second pregnancy after she foaled a filly by Pinatubo (Ire) in 2023.
Princess Amelie - Lot 208 | Image courtesy of Inglis
An NZ$300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale graduate, she is one of the eight winners produced by the G2 Furious Stakes winner Just Dancing (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) who was one of the better 3-year-old fillies of her year, finishing third behind the star filly Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice) in the G1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes.
Just Dancing is one of the three stakes winners for the NZ Champion 2YO Filly Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {Ire}), the triple Group 1-winning dam of the stakeswinners Tahni Girl (Redoute's Choice) and Hidden Dragon.
Bruce Slade buys a nice trio for new client
On a day that saw the vast majority of buyers taking home one or two mares each, Bruce Slade was one of the most active spenders, successfully bidding on three horses for new client James Gatt.
Part owner of the talented galloper Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie) with the Allam family who are already clients of Slade's Kestrel Thoroughbreds, Gatt - who owns a farm in western Sydney with his family - is keen to “get himself a few broodmares to breed commercially with”.
As a $70,000 purchase who has won over $1 million, the G2 Ajax Stakes and G3 Cameron Handicap winner Democracy Manifest is certainly the sort of horse to whet the appetite in regards to an owner looking to increase his interest in the sport!
Strome - Lot 227 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 227 was the first buy; the 10-year-old Strome (Smart Missile) caught the eye on ability and type.
“She was such a good racehorse,” Slade said of the multiple city winner who amassed over $465,000 in stakes. “And you can see that quality in her, she is a good sized mare with substance and bone.”
Being in foal to the rising star Ole Kirk made Strome an all the more attractive proposition for Slade, who said that “obviously he is doing a fantastic job and she already has an Ole Kirk to run for her”. That being the yet to race 2-year-old Extraordinary Gall, a member of the John Sargent stable.
Also dam of a Zoustar yearling colt, Strome is out of a half-sister to the Listed Widden Stakes winner Horizons (Choisir).
Bruce Slade | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Lot 243 was another good buy; Advance Party (Charge Forward) was secured for $100,000 in foal to Maurice (Jpn).
“I love Charge Forward as a broodmare sire," Slade said, “and this mare has lovely shape and style. She has been leaving good types.”
“This mare (Advance Party) has lovely shape and style. She has been leaving good types.” - Bruce Slade
The dual-winning 8-year-old's Snitzel yearling son was purchased by the James Harron Bloodstock Colts Partnership with Tony Fung Colts for $460,000 at Easter.
“She also has a Dundeel filly coming through and Maurice has been serving big books over the last four years, so you'd have to think there is a lot of upside for him.”
Advance Party is out of a Redoute's Choice mare whose dam is the G2 Magic Night Stakes and G3 Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Countess Christie (Marscay), also dam of the Listed winner I Have No Fear (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Maternal Gift - Lot 297 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 297 was the third buy, Maternal Gift (Snitzel) bought for $80,000 in foal to Harry Angel.
“He is a nice commercial mating for her," Slade said of the mare who hails from a family he knows well, with her Group 1-placed stakes-winning half-sister Frankely Sublime (Frankel {GB}) being one of just a small handful of mares in foal to Militarize (NZ).
“She is a half-sister to a stakes winner out of a stakes winner," he noted, happy with the quality of Maternal Gift's pedigree.
“By Snitzel out of a Street Cry mare - two champion sires, you have to love that.”
'A week we dream about': Hutch thrilled
“Unprecedented metrics across the board" was the headline from Inglis at the conclusion of a big week of breeding stock sales with CEO Sebastian Hutch enthusiastic in his praise of buyers and sellers.
“It really has been a week we dream about, fabulous catalogues, enthusiastic buyers, happy vendors and a great spectacle all round,” he said.
A record gross of $77.06 million compared to the previous record of $65.97 million set in 2023 certainly had Hutch smiling.
Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
“To gross over $11 million more than the record for this week of sales is really quite incredible, let alone the fact turnover increased $17.5 million year-on-year off what was a very successful series of sales last year.”
“To gross over $11 million more than the record for this week of sales is really quite incredible.” - Sebastian Hutch
The Australian Weanling Sale resulted in a record gross ($19.31 million) and record individual top price ($775,000) whilst The Chairman’s Sale had a record gross ($54.43 million), a record average ($706,883), a record top price ($4.2 million), and record number of $1 million plus lots (14).
“We heard so many people say that Thursday night's Chairman’s Sale was the best horse sale they’d ever been to,” Hutch said. “The entire Inglis team work exceptionally hard to ensure our clients have a memorable experience when doing business with us so that is very satisfying.
Bella Nipotina | Image courtesy of Inglis
“A mention must go to the connections of both Bella Nipotina and Amelia’s Jewel, to have been entrusted by them to sell their darling mares was truly a great honour and to achieve special results with them both was something our whole team got incredible satisfaction from.
“To have been entrusted by them to sell their darling mares (Bella Nipotina and Amelia’s Jewel) was truly a great honour.” - Sebastian Hutch
“I can't stress enough how grateful we are to all the vendors, breeders, owners and buyers who have supported the week and made such positive results possible, it’s something we don’t take lightly and we are looking forward to working with vendors to achieve more outstanding results through the balance of 2025 and into 2026.”
Top 10 lots
| 241 | Br. | Mare | Zelify | Snitzel | Snipify | Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | Omen Bloodstock | $ 280,000 |
| 242 | B. or Br. | Mare | Abu Simbel | I Am Invincible | Siwa Lady | Astute Bloodstock, Sydney | SP Bloodstock | $ 200,000 |
| 263 | Ch. | Mare | Dubai Diva | Pride of Dubai | Mae Jinx (NZ) | Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | Keith Lam Racing / H Tang | $ 200,000 |
| 229 | B. | Mare | Tomorrow's Dream (FR) | Oasis Dream (GB) | Midnight Thoughts (USA) | Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) | $ 180,000 |
| 208 | B. | Mare | Princess Amelie | Snitzel | Just Dancing | Davali Thoroughbreds, Luskintyre | Beaufort Downs | $ 170,000 |
| 273 | B. | Mare | Frumos (USA) | Kitten's Joy (USA) | Desertstormelite (USA) | Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | Lion Rock Bloodstock | $ 160,000 |
| 227 | B. | Mare | Strome | Smart Missile | Lateral | Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | James Gatt / Kestrel | $ 150,000 |
| 277 | B. | Mare | Glimmering (GB) | Kingman (GB) | Cut Short (USA) | Willow Park Stud, Scone | Restalrig Partnership | $ 135,000 |
| 298 | B. | Mare | Merva | Fastnet Rock | Mefnooda | Yarran Thoroughbreds, Seymour, Vic | Miller Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | $ 120,000 |
| 267 | B. or Br. | Mare | Fashion Icon | More Than Ready (USA) | Catalonia | Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | Alma Vale Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | $ 110,000 |
Top buyers by gross
| Omen Bloodstock | 1 | $ 280,000 | $ 280,000 | $ 280,000 | $ 280,000 |
| Keith Lam Racing / H Tang | 2 | $ 260,000 | $ 130,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 130,000 |
| Restalrig Partnership | 3 | $ 217,000 | $ 72,333 | $ 135,000 | $ 50,000 |
| SP Bloodstock | 1 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 |
| Lion Rock Bloodstock | 2 | $ 190,000 | $ 95,000 | $ 160,000 | $ 95,000 |
| Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $ 180,000 | $ 180,000 | $ 180,000 | $ 180,000 |
| Ronba Pty Ltd / Kestrel | 2 | $ 180,000 | $ 90,000 | $ 100,000 | $ 90,000 |
| Beaufort Downs | 1 | $ 170,000 | $ 170,000 | $ 170,000 | $ 170,000 |
| Watershed Partnership | 3 | $ 151,000 | $ 50,333 | $ 70,000 | $ 46,000 |
| James Gatt / Kestrel | 1 | $ 150,000 | $ 150,000 | $ 150,000 | $ 150,000 |
Top buyers by average
| Keith Lam Racing / H Tang | 2 | $ 260,000 | $ 130,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 130,000 |
| Lion Rock Bloodstock | 2 | $ 190,000 | $ 95,000 | $ 160,000 | $ 95,000 |
| Ronba Pty Ltd / Kestrel | 2 | $ 180,000 | $ 90,000 | $ 100,000 | $ 90,000 |
| Restalrig Partnership | 3 | $ 217,000 | $ 72,333 | $ 135,000 | $ 50,000 |
| McConnell Bloodstock / Rathmore Bloodstock / Arrawed | 2 | $ 110,000 | $ 55,000 | $ 60,000 | $ 55,000 |
| Watershed Partnership | 3 | $ 151,000 | $ 50,333 | $ 70,000 | $ 46,000 |
| Woodside Park Stud | 2 | $ 100,000 | $ 50,000 | $ 80,000 | $ 50,000 |
Top vendors by gross
| Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | 25 | 14 | 10 | 1 | $ 1,218,500 | $ 87,036 | $ 200,000 | $ 82,500 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | $ 355,000 | $ 177,500 | $ 280,000 | $ 177,500 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | $ 254,500 | $ 42,417 | $ 135,000 | $ 25,500 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | $ 245,000 | $ 49,000 | $ 100,000 | $ 45,000 |
| Davali Thoroughbreds, Luskintyre | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | $ 230,000 | $ 115,000 | $ 170,000 | $ 115,000 |
| Astute Bloodstock, Sydney | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | $ 138,000 | $ 23,000 | $ 80,000 | $ 10,000 |
| Merricks Station, Merricks, Vic | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | $ 130,000 | $ 65,000 | $ 80,000 | $ 65,000 |
| Yarran Thoroughbreds, Seymour, Vic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $ 120,000 | $ 120,000 | $ 120,000 | $ 120,000 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $ 110,000 | $ 110,000 | $ 110,000 | $ 110,000 |
Top vendors by average
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | $ 355,000 | $ 177,500 | $ 280,000 | $ 177,500 |
| Davali Thoroughbreds, Luskintyre | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | $ 230,000 | $ 115,000 | $ 170,000 | $ 115,000 |
| Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | 25 | 14 | 10 | 1 | $ 1,218,500 | $ 87,036 | $ 200,000 | $ 82,500 |
| Merricks Station, Merricks, Vic | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | $ 130,000 | $ 65,000 | $ 80,000 | $ 65,000 |
| Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $ 105,000 | $ 52,500 | $ 100,000 | $ 52,500 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | $ 245,000 | $ 49,000 | $ 100,000 | $ 45,000 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | $ 254,500 | $ 42,417 | $ 135,000 | $ 25,500 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | $ 108,000 | $ 36,000 | $ 60,000 | $ 30,000 |
| V |
Top Sires
| Snitzel | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | $ 775,000 | $ 110,714 | $ 280,000 | $ 80,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | $ 315,000 | $ 105,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 100,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | $ 248,000 | $ 62,000 | $ 120,000 | $ 55,000 |
| Pride of Dubai | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 200,000 |
| Oasis Dream (GB) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $ 180,000 | $ 180,000 | $ 180,000 | $ 180,000 |
| Kitten's Joy (USA) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $ 160,000 | $ 160,000 | $ 160,000 | $ 160,000 |
| Smart Missile | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $ 150,000 | $ 150,000 | $ 150,000 | $ 150,000 |
| Kingman (GB) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | $ 135,000 | $ 135,000 | $ 135,000 | $ 135,000 |
| More Than Ready (USA) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | $ 110,000 | $ 110,000 | $ 110,000 | $ 110,000 |
| Sebring | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | $ 105,000 | $ 52,500 | $ 70,000 | $ 52,500 |
