Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
Clearance for the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale on Day 1 improved to 72% compared to 70% last year, and the aggregate increased to $10,661,500, well ahead of $9,200,000 last year. 146 horses sold this year compared to 173 in 2025.
The average lifted to $73,024, up from $53,426 last year, while the median lifted in 2026 to $50,000, well up from $30,000 last year.
The top lot was Lot 43, a filly by first season sire Shinzo who was sold by Noorilim Park to SP Bloodstock for $600,000.
SP Bloodstock were the top buyers and they also bought the top lot, they spent $830,000 on three weanlings. They also topped the averages, spending an average of $276,667.
Fairhill Farm headed the vendors by aggregate, selling 14 weanlings for $1,555,000. By average (two or more sold), Noorilim Park finished the day with the top lot and clocked an average of $232,500 average for four weanlings sold.
Home Affairs led the stallions by gross with $1.435 million from seven lots sold, while first season sire Shinzo topped the averages (2 or more sold) at $265,000 across three lots sold.
Confidence and depth drive Day 1 success
At the conclusion of Day 1, the sale has grossed $10,599,000, with an average of $73,604 and a median of $50,000 - figures that are up 13%, 37%, and 67% respectively on Day 1 last year. It’s a result that signals more than just growth, it hints at renewed confidence and stronger competition across the board.
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch captured that sentiment, noting.
“I’m pleasantly surprised, but really I shouldn’t be…we knew we had been supported by good breeders with a good catalogue of foals and given who is here, it makes sense that there were plenty of positives to the day.’’
“We knew we had been supported by good breeders with a good catalogue of foals and given who is here, it makes sense that there were plenty of positives to the day.’’ - Sebastian Hutch
His measured optimism reflects both preparation and market awareness, especially considering that.
“We offered 45 less foals than the same day as last year, but for the median to be up 67% is striking and it speaks volumes for the greater depth to the catalogue, which has been recognised by buyers.
“There were 34 weanlings sell for $100,000 or more today and of the top 19 highest-priced foals, they were bought by 18 different entities,” Hutch said, highlighting a broad spread of investment rather than reliance on a handful of major players.
Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
Still, the picture isn’t without its complexities. Hutch acknowledged that
“It’s not all blue sky – there are still plenty of challenges in the market, particularly in terms of stock perceived to be at the lower end.” Even so, he concluded, “all things considered, I think it was a very good day,” reinforcing the overall positive tone.
Home Affairs weanlings are hot property
As expected, the progeny of Home Affairs were in strong demand across the opening session of the 2026 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. It didn’t take long for that to show, with Lot 3 - a colt out of the three-time winner Sahra (Hinchinbrook), offered by Fairhill Farm, selling to Matt Davidson for $250,000.
Momentum continued shortly after when Tom Moore, bidding on behalf of his father Kieran Moore’s Tasman Bloodstock, secured Lot 68 - a Home Affairs colt out of Telopea (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), for $290,000, the top price of the day for the son of I Am Invincible from the Parsons Creek draft.
Momentum kept building throughout Day 1, in total 10 Home Affairs weanlings were offered, with seven selling for a total of $1,435,000 and an impressive average of $205,000.
The colt purchased by Tasman Bloodstock hails from a strong international family, and Moore was keen to secure him for the Coolmore system.
Lot 68: Home Affairs x Telopea (GB) colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
“First and foremost, the colt is by Home Affairs and we want to accumulate as many quality Home Affairs as we can, and we’ve got loads of good Home Affairs back at the farm too, but you can’t have too much of a good thing,” Moore said.
“Home Affairs is a stallion that we’ve always had a huge opinion of and he’s producing great results from his first crop. Many stallions claim that, but we think what’s happening with Home Affairs at the moment is only the tip of the iceberg. So accumulating as many quality Home Affairs progeny as we can, we think there’s only significant upside there.
“Home Affairs is a stallion that we’ve always had a huge opinion of and he’s producing great results from his first crop.” - Tom Moore
“We loved the colt. He comes off a good farm, he was extremely well presented, and he is out of a well-related Pivotal mare.
“We felt like buying him now, we can bring him home, he will fit in well at the farm, and we can bring him back to any sale we want next year. We might see him back here at Inglis at Easter.
Tom Moore | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We loved the colt. He comes off a good farm, he was extremely well presented, and he is out of a well-related Pivotal mare.” - Tom Moore
“There’s loads of nice Home Affairs here on the grounds. He’s a stallion that stamps progeny extremely well like his sire I Am Invincible, but as far as the types on the ground, we thought he was right up there with the best of them.
| Home Affairs | 7 | 3 | $1,435,000 | $205,000 | $290,000 |
| Shinzo | 3 | 1 | $795,000 | $265,000 | $600,000 |
| Ozzmosis | 8 | 1 | $637,500 | $79,688 | $130,000 |
| Zousain | 4 | 1 | $550,000 | $137,500 | $170,000 |
| Harry Angel (IRE) | 2 | 1 | $480,000 | $240,000 | $360,000 |
| Stay Inside | 5 | 3 | $480,000 | $96,000 | $160,000 |
| So You Think (NZ) | 4 | 0 | $440,000 | $110,000 | $180,000 |
| Anamoe | 3 | 0 | $410,000 | $136,667 | $260,000 |
| Frankel (GB) | 1 | 0 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| Tassort | 7 | 2 | $396,500 | $56,643 | $120,000 |
Table: Top sires by gross at the 2026 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale
| Shinzo | 3 | 1 | $795,000 | $265,000 | $600,000 |
| Harry Angel (IRE) | 2 | 1 | $480,000 | $240,000 | $360,000 |
| Home Affairs | 7 | 3 | $1,435,000 | $205,000 | $290,000 |
| Alabama Express | 2 | 0 | $335,000 | $167,500 | $220,000 |
| Zousain | 4 | 1 | $550,000 | $137,500 | $170,000 |
| Anamoe | 3 | 0 | $410,000 | $136,667 | $260,000 |
| Ole Kirk | 2 | 0 | $270,000 | $135,000 | $170,000 |
| So You Think (NZ) | 4 | 0 | $440,000 | $110,000 | $180,000 |
| Toronado (IRE) | 3 | 1 | $290,000 | $96,667 | $140,000 |
| Stay Inside | 5 | 3 | $480,000 | $96,000 | $160,000 |
Table: Top sires by average at the 2026 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale
The Maher team are Anamoe all the way
Trainer Ciaron Maher has shown strong support for Anamoe throughout the yearling sales season, assembling a quality group of progeny by the Champion son of Street Boss (USA).
That trend continued into the weanling sale, with Will Bourne, Head of Ciaron Maher Bloodstock. successfully bidding $260,000 for Lot 103 - an Anamoe colt out of the Volksraad (GB) mare Vaayala (NZ) from the Cannon Hayes draft. Vaayala is a half-sister to the outstanding racehorse and stallion Dundeel (NZ).
She has already produced two winners in Valalie (Snitzel), who was placed in the G1 1000 Guineas, and the six-time winner Rockland (Snitzel), who was also placed at Listed level.
Lot 103: Anamoe x Vaayala (NZ) colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bourne was full of the colt, and expected the late foal as a real improver and one that should continue to develop further.
“He’s developed into a nice horse. He’s obviously a very late foal - he just came off his mum only about five or six weeks ago.
“He’s (Lot 103) developed into a nice horse. He’s obviously a very late foal - he just came off his mum only about five or six weeks ago.” - Will Bourne
“I’m just here bidding on the horse. Ciaron and Alice have gone through the catalogue and I really liked him. Ciaron’s got a lot of belief in the stallion, and we’ve obviously got a lot of exposure through Anamoe from the yearling sales this year, and Ciaron was really happy to back up again and buy another one.
Will Bourne | Image courtesy of Inglis
“They have been through the stable already, their temperaments have been amazing. They are very kind, willing, pleasing horses that have held their athleticism.
“Ciaron’s backed the stallion already, but he’s going to back it even further. He’s sending mares there this year. He’s got a lot of belief in the stallion, so we are Anamoe all the way.”
Cannon Hayes has a very strong Day 1
It was a big Day 1 for Dave Morrissey and Cannon Hayes Stud, selling five of their six weanlings for a total of $836,000 at a healthy average of $167,200.
The top lot was an Anamoe colt out of Vaayala (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $260,000. A Home Affairs colt sold to Australian Bloodstock for $220,000, while a So You Think (NZ) colt out of Group 3-winning mare Agent Pippa (Demerit) made $180,000 to Cartown Bloodstock.
Dave Morrissey | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He was a beautiful foal when he was born and he’s always been a quality horse. We came down here quite hopeful and all the right judges were on him. He was out of a super-fast stakes-winning mare in Agent Pippa, and she leaves a good type every year," Morrissey commented about the So You Think colt.
“It’s been a big day - we had an Anamoe sell for $260,000, a Home Affairs for $220,000, a Castelvecchio for $160,000, so it has been a really good day and we will see what tomorrow brings.”
“It’s been a big day - we had an Anamoe sell for $260,000, a Home Affairs for $220,000, a Castelvecchio for $160,000, so it has been a really good day and we will see what tomorrow brings.” - Dave Morrisey
They will return with four more weanlings on Day 2, by Hello Youmzain (Fr), Tassort, Admire Mars (Jpn) and Ole Kirk.
| Fairhill Farm, Mulbring | 14 | 2 | $1,555,000 | $111,071 | $360,000 |
| Noorilim Park, Arcadia, Vic | 4 | 1 | $930,000 | $232,500 | $600,000 |
| Cannon Hayes Stud, Scone | 5 | 1 | $836,000 | $167,200 | $260,000 |
| Rathmore Lodge, Rockleigh, SA | 8 | 1 | $584,000 | $73,000 | $210,000 |
| Fernrigg Farm, Denman | 8 | 2 | $495,500 | $61,938 | $120,000 |
| Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Scone | 9 | 6 | $462,000 | $51,333 | $130,000 |
| Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | 6 | 6 | $456,000 | $76,000 | $220,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 3 | 4 | $455,000 | $151,667 | $400,000 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | 5 | 0 | $423,000 | $84,600 | $200,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Aberdeen | 6 | 1 | $371,500 | $61,917 | $120,000 |
Table: Top vendors by gross at the 2026 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale
| Noorilim Park, Arcadia, Vic | 4 | 1 | $930,000 | $232,500 | $600,000 |
| Cannon Hayes Stud, Scone | 5 | 1 | $836,000 | $167,200 | $260,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 3 | 4 | $455,000 | $151,667 | $400,000 |
| Riverstone Lodge, Blandford | 2 | 1 | $265,000 | $132,500 | $140,000 |
| Fairhill Farm, Mulbring | 14 | 2 | $1,555,000 | $111,071 | $360,000 |
| Willaroon Thoroughbreds, Lurg, Vic | 4 | 0 | $344,000 | $86,000 | $120,000 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | 5 | 0 | $423,000 | $84,600 | $200,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 4 | 0 | $325,000 | $81,250 | $140,000 |
| Glenbeigh Farm, Scone | 3 | 2 | $240,000 | $80,000 | $170,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 2 | 0 | $160,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 |
Table: Top vendors by average at the 2026 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale
Stapleton and Ralph chasing another Wigmore
Last Saturday’s G1 South Australian Derby win by Wigmore (NZ) (Sweynesse) provided strong validation for Ed Stapleton and Dylan Ralph of Ralph Thoroughbreds and their strategy of sourcing value weanlings to resell as yearlings, and then importantly for their business model, develop into successful racehorses.
Stapleton and Ralph originally purchased Wigmore for just NZ$1700 via the Gavelhouse platform before selling him for NZ$25,000 to Kevin Myers at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales. OTI later acquired the gelding privately.
Ed Stapleton and Dylan Ralph | Image courtesy of Inglis
The duo secured a pair of promising weanlings to take back across the Tasman, aiming to develop them on New Zealand pasture before re-offering them as yearlings - following the same blueprint, but with extra impetus after a big graduate win.
The first was an All Too Hard filly out of the Snitzel mare Snit Ball, purchased for $40,000 from Tyreel Stud.
Lot 36: All Too Hard x Snit Ball filly | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She’s from a good farm, out of a full sister to Summer Passage, who Wexford trained in New Zealand. He was a Group 1 winner at two and then went over to Sydney and ran second in the Sires' Produce Stakes at Sydney.” Ralph said.
“There are some good All Too Hard fillies in New Zealand at the moment and the cross is running at about 12% stakes winners to runners. The stallion has left two Group 1-winning fillies or mares, and we reckon he is right up there as one of the best-value proven stallions in Australia.”
The second purchase was a Capitalist colt out of Traviata (Deep Field), secured for the value price of $22,500 from Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds.
“This horse was identical looking to a Capitalist we bought here a couple of years ago. We sold him to Johno Benner and now named Freetown, he has won a trial by six lengths. So we thought, if you have some luck, why change it,” Ralph said.
“We have had some good luck buying value horses. We look for athletes - they need to be free-flowing movers. Time can help condition and confirmation, but they need to have that nice movement and way of going about them.”
Lot 94: Capitalist x Traviata colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
Top Lots
Lot 43 – Shinzo x Special Lover (NZ) (Pins), filly – $600,000
Coolmore Stud’s G1 Golden Slipper-winning first-season sire Shinzo produced an outstanding result when a filly offered by Noorilim Park sold to SP Bloodstock for $600,000.
This quality filly is the fifth foal out of the Listed-placed Pins mare Special Lover (NZ). She comes from Sir Patrick Hogan’s succesful and famed family, and traces back to the great Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}).
She has been an outstanding mare for Noorilim Park, with her five progeny selling for a total of $2.74 million at either yearling or weanling sales.
“It was a little bit more than what I wanted to pay. I had $500,000 on it, but when you get these quality weanlings, like last year, as you guys know, you’ve got to go hard,” Stefan Pardi explained.
“She was my number one pick at the sale, so I wanted to go away with her. I think she’s a real Easter graduate for next year, so I think we bought well in the end.
“She was my number one pick at the sale, so I wanted to go away with her. I think she’s a real Easter graduate for next year, so I think we bought well in the end.” - Stefan Pardi
“She just floated when she moved. She was all quality. She’s the right height. She’s not going to get too big. With Shinzo, in Australia, we have a love for a first-season sire and he is a Golden Slipper winner. Everyone will be all over them.
“If you have a look at the first-season sires, I do my statistics, he’s up against Ozzmosis, really, and I think he’s just a standout as a first-season sire. Trainers will just be all over him, so that’s the reason why I went hard.
“Hopefully, we see her at Easter also. She’s going back to Widden to prepare for Easter, so hopefully we’re back here with the Thompson crew and having another celebration.”
Stefan Pardi | Image courtesy of Inglis
Special Lover last season missed to Stay Inside but will be ready for an early service to a top-end stallion this season, according to Noorilim Park’s Peter Carrick.
Lot 167 – Frankel (GB) x Awhile (Ire) (War Front {USA}), colt – $400,000
It’s not often that Frankel (GB) colts are offered at weanling sales, particularly one with the pedigree of Lot 167, the strong colt out of Awhile (Ire) (War Front {USA}), a mare that traces back to the family of the great Galileo (Ire).
The Coolmore Stud offered colt caught the eye of Grenville Stud alongside Stefan Pardi, who went to $400,000 to secure him, with ambitions of returning to Riverside Stables next year for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“It’s a great price for a quality colt with a pedigree that could be presented at any sale next year. It’s one of the best families in the world - it goes back to Galileo,” Coolmore Stud’s Tom Moore said.
“He is very mature for one of the Frankel's. We bought him here expecting that he would sell well and he was popular all week. He was bought by a good judge who got on the right horses last year and did extremely well.
“He is very mature for one of the Frankel's. He was bought by a good judge who got on the right horses last year and did extremely well.” - Tom Moore
“We would expect him to do extremely well, a colt like this, because you could present him wherever you like and he’s a standout. He was well bought for me.”
Lot 167 : Frankel (GB) x Awhile (IRE) colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
This colt is one of only two Frankel colts born in Australia last spring, and subsequently, after producing this colt, Awhile was served by Home Affairs.
Lot 203 – Harry Angel (Ire) x China Road (Commands), colt – $360,000
Fairhill Farm achieved a strong result when Lot 203 - a powerful-looking Harry Angel (Ire) colt and half-brother to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}), sold for $360,000 to Shane McGrath Bloodstock and Clinton McDonald.
“We are obviously hoping that lightning can strike twice. I saw the horse a couple of times yesterday and I had seen him previously at Mike’s (O’Donnell) place as a foal and I quite liked him. I rang Clinton and said you’d better come up because I thought he was the mirror image of his sister,” Shane McGrath commented.
“We are obviously hoping that lightning can strike twice. I saw the horse a couple of times yesterday and I had seen him previously at Mike’s (O’Donnell) place as a foal and I quite liked him.” - Shane McGrath
“He’s got the same hindquarters, same head, and has a good action by a very good sire - and I guess that’s what you have to pay for them. Clinton was pleased when he saw him here on the complex as well; he loved him.
“We were trying to work out what he would have cost us at Easter next year if he grew out. It’s a bit of a risk, but everybody knows that these nice colts are very hard to get a hold of, and Hayasugi was an absolute star.”
Shane McGrath | Image courtesy of Inglis
China Road last season was served by Coolmore Stud’s young sire Storm Boy.
Top Lots
| 43 | Filly | Shinzo | Special Lover (NZ) | Noorilim Park | SP Bloodstock (Aust) Pty Ltd, NSW | $600,000 |
| 167 | Colt | Frankel (GB) | Awhile (IRE) | Coolmore Stud | Grenville Stud, TAS | $400,000 |
| 203 | Colt | Harry Angel (IRE) | China Road | Fairhill Farm | Shane McGrath Bloodstock / Clinton McDonald, NSW | $360,000 |
| 68 | Colt | Home Affairs | Telopea (GB) | Parsons Creek | Tasman Bloodstock, NSW | $290,000 |
| 103 | Colt | Anamoe | Vaayala (NZ) | Cannon Hayes Stud | Ciaron Maher Bloostock , VIC | $260,000 |
| 3 | Colt | Home Affairs | Sahra | Fairhill Farm | Matt Davidson, VIC | $250,000 |
| 234 | Colt | Home Affairs | Dragon's Tail | Fairhill Farm | Carlaw Park, NEW ZEALAND | $225,000 |
| 194 | Filly | Alabama Express | Canadian Spice | Newgate Consignment | GlenX Bloodstock, QLD | $220,000 |
| 154 | Colt | Home Affairs | Andalusia | Cannon Hayes Stud | Rocco Bloodstock, NSW | $220,000 |
| 224 | Colt | Home Affairs | Debate | Rathmore Lodge, Rockleigh, SA | NCHRF Pty Ltd - Two Bays Farm / Astute Bloodstock (FBAA), VIC | $210,000 |
Buyers by Gross
| SP Bloodstock (Aust) Pty Ltd | 3 | $830,000 | $276,667 | $600,000 |
| Tasman Bloodstock | 3 | $530,000 | $176,667 | $290,000 |
| Grenville Stud | 2 | $480,000 | $240,000 | $400,000 |
| Fernrigg Farm Pty Ltd | 6 | $412,000 | $68,667 | $140,000 |
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock / Clinton McDonald | 1 | $360,000 | $360,000 | $360,000 |
| Redwall Bloodstock | 2 | $330,000 | $165,000 | $200,000 |
| Jim Carey | 3 | $290,000 | $96,667 | $130,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloostock | 1 | $260,000 | $260,000 | $260,000 |
| Sledmere Stud / Cangon | 5 | $256,500 | $51,300 | $125,000 |
| Matt Davidson | 1 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
Buyers by Average
| SP Bloodstock (Aust) Pty Ltd | 3 | $830,000 | $276,667 | $600,000 |
| Grenville Stud | 2 | $480,000 | $240,000 | $400,000 |
| Tasman Bloodstock | 3 | $530,000 | $176,667 | $290,000 |
| Redwall Bloodstock | 2 | $330,000 | $165,000 | $200,000 |
| Jim Carey | 3 | $290,000 | $96,667 | $130,000 |
| Bevan Smith Bloodstock / Sullivan Bloodstock | 2 | $190,000 | $95,000 | $160,000 |
| P Ferne | 2 | $185,000 | $92,500 | $120,000 |
| McConnell Bloodstock | 2 | $170,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 |
| Fernrigg Farm Pty Ltd | 6 | $412,000 | $68,667 | $140,000 |
| Mishani Enterprises | 2 | $130,000 | $65,000 | $100,000 |
