NEWS

Inglis has conducted its third most successful Classic Yearling Sale in the February auction’s history, with the sale turning over more than $57 million to be only eclipsed by the 2022 and 2023 sales.

The third and final day of the 2026 Classic sale contributed a touch over $17 million to the aggregate, the smallest of the three sessions, but it was on Tuesday when the highest-priced lot was sold at a Classic sale since 2022.

The Ghaiyyath colt was sold for $625,000 to McEvoy Racing and Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy, the ladder leader of the 20 yearlings to sell for $300,000 or more at Riverside Stables this week.

Another 43 lots sold for between $200,000 and $300,000, helping the gross to $57,233,500 at an average of $97,668 and a median of $75,000. The clearance rate was also up year-on-year at 83 per cent.

In a sale renowned for value, Straight Six Racing was delighted to secure a striking colt by Tiger of Malay, the leading sire son of legendary Extreme Choice in the Australian First Season Sires Table. We are looking forward to him hopefully repeating the success experienced by other Inglis Classic yearlings purchased by Michael Ward and his brother Chris. These have included $10.6m earner, Group 1 winner and three-time Everest contender Mazu, Group 1 winner Peggy Jean and other Group race winners like Moss Trip, Cavalry Rose, Brave Song and Pierossa.

Source: The Straight, Straight Six Racing

Seventeen individual winners are included among the entries, with four of those nominations – Big Sky, Jacaranda, Outspan and Satin Summer – emerging victorious since the previous declaration stage.

Jacaranda, a half-sister to 2021 Blue Diamond winner Artorius, is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes. Incidentally, Straight Six Racing is currently syndicating a precocious colt by the former race winner, Artorius, and it would be great to see him line up in this race in 12 months’ time aiming to win the same race as his sire.

Straight Six Racing’s Michael Ward, a former owner of Triple Crown Syndications, knows the thrill of being represented by a horse in the feature race. Revolutionary Miss finished second by the narrowest of margins in the 2022 edition of the race won by Daumier.

The Hayes stable leads trainer representation at this stage for this year’s race with 11 nominations, ahead of Michael Freedman (seven) and Ciaron Maher (six).

Several top juveniles have been withdrawn, including Magic Millions 2YO Classic top-five finishers Tornado Valley, By Choice and Knightsbridge, as well as Lumbini and Warwoven, who were scratched from the Gold Coast feature on the morning of the race.

Guest House, a Home Affairs colt out of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr stable, holds pre-post Diamond favouritism as a $4.50 chance.

Starting odds-on at his debut, Guest House scored at Cranbourne in December and has since won a jumpout.

The Blue Diamond will be run at Caulfield on February 21.

Source: The Straight, Straight Six Racing

The country’s undisputed number one auction for future success is ready to deliver again with the finest yearlings set to converge at Australia’s holiday playground in what is shaping as a summer to remember.

Australasia’s best thoroughbreds breeders have all made strong contributions to a first class offering of 1,221 yearlings to sell from January 13 to 18.

The star studded catalogue of yearlings across Books One and Two, includes progeny of 122 individual sires, with strong interest to surround youngsters by 14 first season sires.

Among the pedigree highlights are (at least half) relations to elite level winners including Artorius, Benedetta, Cool Archie, Devil Night, Farnan, Golden Mile, Imperatriz, In Secret, Joliestar, Manaal, Sepals, Stay Inside, Stefi Magnetica, Sunlight, Super Seth and Yearning.

Thanks for all of the support over the year. We look forward to celebrating many successes at the track in 2026.