Cover image courtesy of Inglis
Around the 2026 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, we asked some of the industry's leading figures a new question each day. Here's how they answered.
Question of the Day: What is one that got away? (Didn't buy as a yearling or were underbidder)
Byron Rogers - Stable Analytics: Ramatuelle. I was underbidder as a yearling to Arthur Hoyeau. I got on the wrong leg and he bid €100,000 and we were trying to breeze her so that was our limit. When she made US$5.1 million as a broodmare prospect after winning a Group 1, I felt a little unwell.
Peter O’Brien - Segenhoe Stud: Winx, she was a foal share and John Camilleri wanted to buy it out and I advised not to!.
Matthew Ennis - G1 Goldmine and Stallion Match: Honestly no idea, I never look back at the ones I missed and only look forward that the ones our clients and I should buy.
Scott Darby - Darby Racing: The one that got away was Snitzerland.
Winx | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Adam White - Vinery Stud: Unfortunately we were underbidder on Winx and Sebring. One was syndicated for $30 million and one won it in prizemoney. Latest which hurt a bit was O'Ole.
Paul Moroney - Paul Moroney Bloodstock: There has been plenty but the one that has been the most costly would be Extreme Choice. I'd love to have that lifetime breeding right.
Will Johnson - William Johnson Bloodstock: Once the gavel lands the horse's trajectory forever changes, so best to forget the 'could have been Champions'!
Sheamus Mills - Sheamus Mills Bloodstock: was underbidder on Autumn Glow. That has been a bit painful.
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Dave Mee - Pinhook Bloodstock International: At the price point I buy at, most of them get away! Thankfully not Winx. But The Astrologist and Profiteer are two that come to mind.
Albert Bosma - Go Racing: Was underbidder on Prowess.
Craig 'Boomer' Rounsefell - Boomer Bloodstock: At the Easter Sale during Covid we were the underbidders on an I Am Invincible colt for the HKJC. A sliding doors moment as he turned out to be Group 1 winner and very promising stallion Home Affairs.
Alison Hush - Davali Thoroughbreds: I wish we kept a share in Revengeance.
Sean Driver - Kurrinda Bloodstock: Redzel.
Suman Hedge - Suman Hedge Bloodstock: From my experience good horses generally have between 10 and 20 underbidders! That said, I'm fairly confident Robert Smerdon, Byron Rogers, and myself (Matchem Racing) were underbidders on Capitalist. As it's turned out this was very costly, however if he went through our system at that time he most likely gets ringworm at Ballarat and then potentially gets gelded (as most of ours were) and then traded to Hong Kong. Sliding doors but Capitalist might have dodged one there.
Jimmy Unwala - Avesta Bloodstock: Lot 604 at the 2024 Inglis Premier Sale in Book 2, a colt by Churchill. I wanted to buy him to ready-to-run him but I needed a partner to go halves, unfortunately no one liked him enough and he sold to $25,000 to Riverrock Farm. A few months later he made $775,000 at the New Zealand Ready to run sale, that hurt a little.
Lot 604 - Churchill (Ire) x Bagitol colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
Will Larkin - Malua Racing: Me telling Troy that $130,000 was too much for an All Too Hard filly and let her go. That was Stefi Magnetica and we should have paid 10 x more.
Manny Gelagotis - Gelagotis Racing: Ducimus at Melbourne Premier. Funny part was Juzzy Bahen and myself greeted each other before it sold in the ring and we found out later that we were both going tooth and nail running the price up against each other - still laugh about it today but he turned out a nice horse and a stallion prospect.
Jason Micallef - Monarch Racing Syndications: Was underbidder on Autumn Boy, against a man with more money than god!.
