Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
At A Glance
The exciting racing and breeding prospect Mount Bona (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) topped the sale, with Beaufort Bloodstock purchasing her for $240,000
Godolphin’s seven-strong draft was sold for a total of $256,750, with Chergui (Frosted {USA}) the top-seller, as the Jolly Time Syndicate picked him up for $95,000.
A 5% share in the in-form Sovereign Hill (Written Tycoon) was secured by Waverley Racing for $16,000, placing a $320,000 valuation on the gelding.
A 5% share in the Listed winner Stay Focused (Cosmic Force) was snapped up by Ibm Pty Ltd for $8,000, valuing the gelding at $160,000.
A 2.5% share in the 3-year-old gelding Waverley Road (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was purchased by A House for $6,500, valuing the gelding at $260,000.
Mount Bona tops sale at $240,000
Mount Bona (Night Of Thunder) always loomed as a standout in the Inglis Online February (Early) catalogue and duly delivered, selling to Beaufort Bloodstock for $240,000.
Offered as a racing and breeding prospect with plenty of upside both from earning potential on the track and eventually as a broodmare, the mare brings strong recent form to her new connections, having won her past three starts at Scone, Rosehill and Randwick.
She has now recorded four wins from eight career starts, accruing just over $155,000 in prizemoney for Scone trainers Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich.
Mount Bona | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Messara, who is at Riverside this week managing Classic Yearling Sale inspections for Arrowfield, was delighted with the outcome.
“It’s a really nice result,’’ Messara said.
“She’s a lovely mare with a lot of upside, she’s still got a lot of racing to come and she’s got a beautiful pedigree.
“She’s a lovely mare with a lot of upside, she’s still got a lot of racing to come and she’s got a beautiful pedigree.’’ - Paul Messara
“I thought there was really good, strong spirited bidding on her, it was nice to see a large group of people obviously interested in her and I wish the purchaser all the very best.’’
Paul Messara | Image courtesy of Sportpix
By outstanding sire Night Of Thunder (Ire), who produced 32 individual Stakes winners worldwide in 2025, and now has a total of 81 stakes winners overall, including nine at the elite Group 1 level, headlined by the four-time Group 1 winning sprinter Highfield Princess (Ire).
Mount Bona is out of the Great British Listed winner Vona (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Her pedigree also features elite European performers, including G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner and sire Rail Link (GB), along with G1 Critérium de Saint-Cloud winner and sire Linda’s Lad (GB).
Godolphin draft attracts strong interest
Godolphin’s seven-strong offering of 3-year-olds - including two fillies - was met with solid demand, with Stakes performer Chergui (Frosted {Ire}) emerging as the standout of the draft. The Frosted (USA) gelding was most recently beaten less than two lengths at Flemington earlier this month in B70 level behind the talented Gallant Son (Written Tycoon), who subsequently went on and won again at his next start.
The draft returned $256,750 in aggregate, averaging $36,678 per lot. Chergui topped proceedings when knocked down to the Jolly Time Syndicate for $95,000, while Viva Racing secured the Bivouac gelding Loving for $80,000.
Chergui | Image courtesy of Inglis
Chergui heads to his new stable with a race record of one win and five placings from 11 starts, having earned just over $280,000 in prizemoney. He showed early ability as a 2-year-old, finishing third behind Mcgaw (I Am Immortal) in the $1 million Vobis Showdown, before later placing second at Listed level at Moonee Valley behind Prestige Forever (Ole Kirk) when trained by James Cummings.
Also finding a new home was Loving, a 3-year-old gelding who has already recorded three wins from seven outings. His most recent success came in a B64 Handicap at Gosford late last year, scoring by just under one and three-quarter lengths.
Loving | Image courtesy of Inglis
Godolphin graduates continue to reward their new owners via the Inglis online sale platform, with Barber (Exceed And Excel), Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}) and Sandpaper (Snitzel) all having since progressed to stakes-winning level for their respective new connections.
Shares in Sovereign Hill and Stay Focused popular
A 5% share in the in-form Sovereign Hill (Written Tycoon) was secured by Waverley Racing for $16,000, placing a $320,000 valuation on the exciting gelding.
Sovereign Hill is scheduled to make his next appearance on G2 Apollo Stakes Day at Randwick February 14, with the vendor consolidating his interest while retaining a shareholding in the gelding.
Sovereign Hill | Image courtesy of Inglis
A 5% share in the Bennett Racing-managed and Ciaron Maher-trained Stay Focused (Cosmic Force) was snapped up by Ibm Pty Ltd for $8,000, valuing the Listed-winning gelding at $160,000. A well-bred 4-year-old gelding, Stay Focused has built an impressive record, registering three wins and six top-three finishes from just 16 starts.
Purchased for $250,000 as a yearling, Stay Focused has already returned over $400,000 in prizemoney and continues to show there is more to come.
Stay Focused | Image courtesy of Bennett Racing
Well-bred Waverley Road share in hot demand
A 2.5% share in the 3-year-old gelding Waverley Road (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was purchased by A House for $6,500, valuing the gelding at $260,000.
He made his debut in a strong form race at Randwick in late 2024, producing an encouraging performance that suggested both further distance and time would suit, in line with his breeding.
Waverley Road | Image courtesy of Inglis
He has been given time and has since returned in fine order, winning both of his trials this preparation for trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton.
With plenty of upside, Waverley Road is scheduled to commence his campaign in the second week of February, with the vendor selling to consolidate shareholdings.
