Cover image courtesy of Inglis
On Monday, Inglis unveiled the much-awaited 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale catalogue, showcasing 79 exquisite lots of some of Australia's top fillies and mares.
Described as more than just a horse auction—it's ‘a cocktail party with a horse sale added’—the prestigious event is set to dazzle on Thursday, May 9, at Riverside Stables.
Inglis’ CEO Bloodstock Sales Sebastain Hutch, “We’ve received wonderful support for this year’s catalogue again - every lot makes significant appeal in its own particular way. It’s a boutique sale and we’re thrilled with the variety and depth of quality on offer. It's a sale sure to attract engagement from every major breeding operation in the world.
“... Every lot makes significant appeal in its own particular way. It’s a boutique sale and we’re thrilled with the variety and depth of quality on offer. It's a sale sure to attract engagement from every major breeding operation in the world.” - Sebastian Hutch
“It is so incredibly rare that so many good fillies and mares would come up for public auction in a given year anywhere in the world - let alone all in the one place on the one night - so it is really very exciting.”
Here’s some points of interest from the Star-studded catalogue:
1. Stacked with quality
The 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale catalogue undeniably boasts quality, featuring 79 lots, of which 56 are stakes winners or stakes producers—making up 71 per cent of the catalogue.
2. Top covering sires: Vinnie and Justify lead the pack
Australia’s reigning Champion Sire, I Am Invincible, and Coolmore Stud’s emerging star, Justify (USA), tie on being the most represented covering sire with six entries in the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale
Among the notable mares covered by ‘Vinnie’ is Lot 22, Pinocchio (Encosta De Lago). Presented by Tyreel Stud, this grey mare boasts an impressive record as the dam of The Everest victor, Classique Legend, and the Group 2 winner, Group 1-placed Aethero (Sebring).
Pinocchio’s four offspring sold at public auction have commanded an average price of $709,500, with a top price of $2 million.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park
Justify is also represented by a strong group of quality mares. Among them is Lot 13, Miss Promiscuity (Magnus), offered by the Newgate Consignment. She triumphed in the G3 Sir John Monash S. and had been stakes-placed on multiple occasions.
Front runner among the freshman covering sires represented in the catalogue is Anamoe, Godolphin’s stellar Champion racehorse, retired to Darley last year to much applause. The son of Street Boss (USA) has five mares representing him at the sale. One of the standouts is Lot 66, Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet {USA}), offered by Segenhoe Stud. She is the dam of King’s Legacy, a dual Group 1 victor and exciting stallion prospect.
Justify (USA) | Standing at Coolmore
Additional prominent covering sires in the catalogue include Frankel (GB) with four lots, Extreme Choice with three lots, Kingman (GB) with two lots, and Wootton Bassett (GB) also with two lots.
3. Chairman's provides happy hunting ground for Slipper success
Buyers had two opportunities to secure dams of future G1 Golden Slipper winners. Famously, at the 2018 Inglis Chairman’s Sale, Widden Stud presented the Anabaa (USA) mare Nothin Leica Storm in foal to Newgate Farm’s young stallion, Extreme Choice.
Nothin Leica Storm was sold to Kingstar Farm for $90,000. In August 2018, she foaled a colt, later to be named Stay Inside, who wrote his name in history as a victor of the 2021 G1 Golden Slipper, and now stands alongside his sire at Newgate Farm.
Stay Inside | Standing at Newgate
In 2020 when Vinery Stud offered the star mare Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}) with a cover to Arrowfield Stud’s four-time Champion Sire Snitzel.
Samaready was already the dam of the outstanding R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Exhilarates (Snitzel). Tom Magnier went to $1.8 million to take home Samaready.
The Snitzel she was carrying turned out to be the 2023 G1 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo, who raced in Coolmore’s navy blue.
Shinzo and Tom Magnier | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Other success stories include Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}), a $440,000 purchase she subsequently became the dam of two stakes, one of who won a Group 2 race.
Eskimo Queen (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) already had a classy proposition in Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock), but after her sale for $400,000 in 2019, he won the G1 George Ryder. Keysbrook (So Secret) was purchased for $825,000 in 2022. Her daughter She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) had won the G1 Champagne S. but would add the G1 VRC Oaks in the spring.
She’s Extreme will be offered as Lot 32 through the Newgate Consignment.
Lot 32 - She's Extreme | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Florentina (Redoute’s Choice) was sold for $650,000 in 2022, at the time her daughter In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was unraced. Since then, In Italian has won seven races, including four Group 1 races in North America.
4. Daughters of Fastnet bring genetic gold
It was perfectly illustrated last Saturday if anybody needed reminding of Fastnet Rock’s prowess as a sire and broodmare sire. The Coolmore mainstay saw his Group 1-winning daughter Via Sistina (Ire) add a second Group 1 in the Ranvet S. while his classy son Buckaroo (GB) filled the third spot.
While as a broodmare sire, Fastnet Rock’s daughters, Miss Debutante and Neena Rock, became the dams of Group 1s. First-up was Neena Rock; her brilliant son Veight (Grunt {NZ}) earned a well-deserved elite victory in the G1 George Ryder S.
Later in the Rosehill program, Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), a daughter of the outstanding producer Miss Debutante, saluted in the Golden Slipper.
Earlier in the month, Zougotcha (Zoustar), who’s dam Fast Talker, is a daughter of Fastnet Rock, added a second Group 1 to her CV in G1 Coolmore Classic.
Fastnet Rock | Standing at Coolmore
The success shot Fastnet Rock atop the Leading Australian Broodmare Sires’ for the 2023/24 season. Fastnet Rock’s daughters are responsible for 111 stakes winners, of which 12 are Group 1 winners.
Two daughters of Fastnet Rock will be offered at the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale. The first of those through the ring is Lot 27 Rocket Science (Ire), offered by Glenesk Thoroughbreds.
The Irish-bred mare won twice and finished fourth in a Group 3. Rocket Science is from the G2 Queen Mary S. placed Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who is the dam of the Group 1-placed Devil’s Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and the Listed-placed The Acropolis (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).
Rocket Science (Ire) | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Rocket Science is one of six mares offered in foal to Justify. The Justify/Fastnet Rock cross has proven successful, with the likes of the Group 2 winner Learning To Fly and the G1 Golden Slipper placegetter Storm Boy bred on the cross.
Arrowfield Stud will present Lot 42, Star Rockette (Ire). The unraced mare is bred on the same cross as Via Sistina from a Galileo (Ire) mare, Stars At Night (Ire), who is a half-sister to the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly of Great Britain Blue Bunting (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}).
Star Rockette is a full sister to Poker Face (Ire), a six-time winner, including the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein S. and the dual Listed winner Star Devine (Ire). Star Rockette is offered on a cover to the brilliant Kingman.
5. Group 1 stars shine bright
The 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale contains five Group 1-winning mares and fillies. The figure is one less than the 2023 catalogue that saw six Group 1 winners offered.
However, the figure is significantly higher than the three Group 1 winners offered in 2022.
The 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale will also see seven Group 2 winners offer, a figure higher than both 2023 (six) and 2022 (five).
Among the five Group 1 winners set for Chairman’s in this catalogue, include the New Zealand’s Champion Stayer and dual Oaks victress Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). Offered as Lot 20 by Sledmere Stud.
Pennyweka (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Group 1 victress Startantes (Star Turn) will be presented as Lot 43 by the Newgate Consignment, who also presents the dual Group 1 winner She's Extreme.
While Lot 53 Via Africa (SAf) (Var {SAf}) brings Group 1 performance on two fronts. The Newhaven Park-consigned mare was crowned Champion Sprinter in South Africa with 10 victories; as a broodmare, she has produced the G1 Golden Rose hero In The Congo.
In The Congo, also won the G3 San Domenico and placed in the G1 The Galaxy before retiring to Newgate Farm last season, where he covered 169 mares.
6. International appetisers
A diverse and exciting array of international sires will be represented at the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale. Prospective buyers will be afforded the opportunity to purchase daughters by such outcross sires as Constitution (USA).
The WinStar Farm-based stallion, a son of Tapit (USA), has sired the likes of the Group 1 winner and Coolmore-based stallion Tiz The Law (USA). Constitution’s sole offer is Lot 71 Easy Silence (USA), consigned by Arrowfield Stud; the Listed-placed mare carries a cover to Frankel.
Constitution (USA) | Standing at WinStar Farm
Other North American-based sires represented include the champion Quality Road (USA). His daughter Solitary Road (USA) (Lot 39) was unraced and will be offered by Yarraman Park with a cover to I Am Invincible.
Star stallion War Front (USA) is represented by Lot 75 Global Brand (USA). The Listed-placed mare was covered by Frankel and is a daughter of dual Group 1 winner Marketing Mix (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Violence (USA), a son of More Than Ready (USA), has Lot 18 Nothingbutflowers (USA) offered by B2B Thoroughbreds. Newgate Farm’s Wild Ruler has served the mare, who is a daughter of the Listed winner, Sky Mystic (USA) (Sky Mesa {USA}).
Other international sires represented include Orb (USA), Twirling Candy (USA), Frankel (USA), Dansili (GB) and Bungleinthejungle (GB).
