Cover image courtesy of Race Images
On Sunday, it was announced that three-time Group 1 victress Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) will be offered at the 2026 Inglis Chairman’s Sale on May 7, at the Riverside Stables sale complex in Warwick Farm. The 6-year-old recent winner of the G1 Mufhasa Classic is the latest top calibre addition to this year’s elite catalogue.
At the top of her game
Retained to race by breeder Tony Rider in partnership with the Social Racing Winners Circle Syndicate, Provence was placed in the capable hands of Stephen Marsh and kicked off her career as a 3-year-old, breaking her maiden with 1200 metres at her fourth start the following spring. She was given her first shot at stakes grade in the autumn of 2024 and was beaten by three quarters of a length into second in the Listed Flying Handicap at Wellington.
Maturing into a proper miler as a 5-year-old, Provence gave connections the impression she was worthy of a swing at Group 1 grade after a gutsy fourth in the G2 Rich Hill Mile to Bourbon Empress (NZ) (Proisir) on New Years Day in 2025. She vindicated that decision 10 days later at her next start when winning the G1 Thorndon Mile in her first attempt at the top level, beating Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) by a head.
Two starts later, she repeated the feat in the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes in another gritty win by a head, defeating then multiple Group-performed Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and multiple Group 1 victress Legarto (NZ) (Proisir).
Provence winning the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Returning in the spring, Provence split Qali Al Farrasha and Jaarffi in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes ahead of her third top flight victory back at Wellington in weight-for-age company. Held up until the final furlong, she again dug deep to beat heavyweight performers Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) and La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in a photo finish.
Her seventh victory took her prizemoney to over NZ$1.1 million, in a career that has seen her defeat many of New Zealand's top line horses, including the likes of Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), and Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Continuing her preparation into the summer, Provence has run competitively in three straight runs at Group 1 level, including finishing third by three quarters of a length to Jaarffi in the G1 Maori Stakes. She is scheduled to have one more start ahead of the Chairman’s Sale, where she will defend her crown in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes on March 28.
Bred to win
While pedigree is no guarantee of success, it certainly helps to start with good blood on the page. Provence is surrounded in her family by black-type and the potential to produce more, her dam Sombreuil (Flying Spur) is a winning daughter of G2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes winner Te Akau Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park), herself a daughter of Listed Counties Challenge Stakes winner Straussbridge (NZ) (Straussbrook).
Te Akau Rose (NZ) | Image courtesy of Te Akau Racing
Amongst Te Akau Rose’s half-sisters are the dams of Group 1-producing sire Brutal (NZ) and his Listed-winning full sister Talaria (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), whose daughter I Am Aria (I Am Invincible) placed in both G1 Blue Diamond Stakes lead-up races this year, and G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes victress Cavalry Rose (Charge Forward).
Straussbridge is one of three stakes winners for Alberton Lass (NZ) (Adios {GB}), along with Group winners Alberton Star (NZ) (Stylish Century), herself a stakes producer, and Sir Alberton (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}).
Inglis Bloodstock Sales Manager and New Zealand representative Brett Gilding is delighted to have secured Provence for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, the sale where top performed Kiwi-bred mare Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) realised $1.45 million last year.
Brett Gilding | Image courtesy of Inglis
“You don’t see triple Group 1-winning mares being offered for public auction very often and Provence is a special offering,’’ Gilding said. “She is a very accomplished race mare, but beyond that, she’s particularly good looking and has a sexy pedigree, so she is going to appeal to a huge range of investors, both international and domestic.”
“You don’t see triple Group 1-winning mares being offered for public auction very often and Provence is a special offering.’’ - Brett Gilding
Sombreuil’s next foal after Provence is the $2 million earner Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), winner of the R. Listed NZB Kiwi and the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, who will aim to match her older sister’s level by running in the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes in April.
Damask Rose (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
An absolute stunner
Rider will offer Provence, a mare he describes as “an absolute stunner”, under his Milan Park banner at his inaugural visit to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
“People will understand what I mean when they see her at Riverside in May, but she is the most magnificent looking mare,” Rider said. “An unbelievable type, an absolute stunner.
“She (Provence) is the most magnificent looking mare - an unbelievable type, an absolute stunner.’’ - Tony Rider
“Each of her Group 1 wins have come over the mile, and we tried her over 2000 metres last start (in the Bonecrusher) at Group 1 level, but she just wants it a bit shorter, her turn of foot over the 1400-1600 metres is so explosive.
Tony Rider | Image courtesy of Milan Park
“Her temperament is fantastic, she’s such a calm and relaxed mare, and Stephen Marsh talks very highly of her and says she’s one of the best mares he’s ever trained. She’s a great looker with a proper conformation, I have no doubt she will make the most beautiful broodmare, but I also believe she has plenty more racing in her as well.”
“Tony Rider has established Milan Park as one of the best nurseries in New Zealand, and it is an honour for Inglis to have the opportunity to showcase his star mare to the world and hopefully give him an incredible first experience of Riverside,” said Gilding.
“I’ve seen the videos and photos and spoken to people, and everyone says it’s just the most fabulous event that the best mares need to go to,” said Rider of the sale. “So I was more than happy to come to Chairman’s with Provence.
“I rang Andrew Williams and he said to me that a mare like her needs to be going to the Chairman’s Sale, and I also spoke to Bruce Perry and he said basically the exact same thing.”
“I rang Andrew Williams and he said to me that a mare like her (Provence) needs to be going to the Chairman’s Sale.’’ - Tony Rider
Provence is the latest breeding and racing prospect confirmed for the sale, alongside the likes of last start G2 Challenge Stakes winner Generosity (Divine Prophet), last start G3 Matron Stakes winner Ahha Ahha (Starspangledbanner), Group 1-performed, Listed Canberra Guineas winner Snow In May (The Autumn Sun), and Group winners Coco Jamboo (Ire) (Massaat {Ire}), Eternal Flame (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), and Just Feelin’ Lucky (Justify {USA}).
Final entries for the 2026 sale will close on Friday, March 20.
