Inglis Classic Yearling Sale 2026

First I would like to thank the large number of well wishes who went out of the way to help me during my health problems and the condolence they expressed after the death of my wife Janice. Over the last 12 months fortunately, my health has improved, and you can expect a continuous stream of postings. It’s 12 months since my last posting and I start by selecting three yearlings that have the right genetic makeup and are listed in the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in February 2026.

Lot 86 b f  Dundeel – Intelligentsia

Dundeel is a well-established and successful sire. He is the sire of 53 SW (33 c, 20 f). SW/r 5.55%; G1W/r 1.57%. His best horse is Militarize (3xG1), including the Golden Rose of 1400m. Most of his progeny are sprinter/milers although he does have a G2 winner in South Africa over 2801m. The cross between Dundeel and Exceed and Excel has produced Tannhauser, the winner of the Rough Habit Plate a G3 over 2000m. With a PRI score of 92.1 she is worth a look.

Lot 162 b or br c Trapeze Artist – Majestic Pedrille

Trapeze Artist is moving up the list of sires. Jumped 21 places from last year. He has produced 10 SW (4 c, 6 f). SW/r 4.35%; G1W/r 0.43%. His best horse is the G1

Trapeze Artist

Caulfield Guineas winner Griff. His progeny has won in distance 1000 – 2400m including the G3 Colin Stephens Quality. The cross of Trapeze Artist to Octagonal has already been twice successful. Facile won a G3 over 1200m and Ducasse a G3 over 1600m. A PRI score of 87.3 suggests consideration.

Lot 283 ch f The Autumn Sun – Pandemonium

I don’t like I told you so stories but while The Autumn Sun was still racing, I predicted his success as a sire in my post – The Autumn Sun: Another Step Towards Greatness – in March 2019. I also predicted he would be most successful in siring winners at the

The Autumn Sun

classic distances. His record to date is 11 SW (4 c, 7 f). SW/r 5.31%; G1W/r 1.93%. His 4 G1 winners are in a group of prestigious races this country has: Autumn Angel: Australian Oaks; Coco Sun: SA Derby; Autumn Boy: Caulfield Guineas; and Autumn Glow: Epsom Handicap.  The cross The Autumn Sun to Sebring has already produced Autumn Mystery a G3 winner over 2000m. With such a super pedigree and a PRI score of 93.5 if you’re serious about owning a classic winner she should be on the list as one to look at.

If you are interested in quality, then Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is the place to be.

MM National Yearling Sale

It is now time to focus on the MM National Yearling Sale for 2023. Four hundred  yearlings are catalogued. Many of these have excellent pedigrees. The challenge is to find ones that will make good racehorses. I have selected four that are very well bred and have high PRI scores. Certainly, they are worth a physical examination. A word here about conformation.. As the great trainer John Nerud (the man who invented the American Breeders Cup Series) is quoted as saying “Don’t go to a stakes paddock to study textbook conformation”. Get advice from an experienced trainer. He will know if a yearling’s comformational “faults” will prevent it from reaching its full potential on the racetrack.

Lot 1442 (b c Xtravagant – Arc)

Xtravagant has produced 5 SW (SW/r 5.05%). Two of these are from a cross to the More Than Ready female sire line . The SW/r number is 66.67%. He’s Exceptional won a L race as a 3yo over1208m.  His sister, Xtravagant Star won  a L race over1107m. The female tail line of Lot 1442 is not exceptionally strong with 6GFI of 6.03%. However, Arc is where the action is and  a PRI is very good at 94.2.

Lot 1481 ( b f Night of Thunder – Chicago Star)

Night of Thunder crossed with Exceed and Excel has already produced two SW, both fillies. This shows as a SW/r value of 25%. Lola Showgirl won a G3 in the UK over1409m and River Night won a L race for 2yo over1006m.

Night of Thunder

The 6GFI of 19.6% is exceptional. The female line contains US Army Ranger, second in the English Derby and a starter in a Melbourne Cup. Both Night of Thunder and Exceed and Excel are versatile in their roles of sire and broodmare sire. Something exceptional could happen. The PRI is very good at 97.1, which adds to confidence.

Lot 1505 (b of br c Pride of Dubai – Di Alta)

Pride of Dubai is off to a great start as a sire. Already twenty SW and three G1 victories. The cross Pride of Dubai to High Chaparral has produced three SW. Desert Lightning won the G2 Avondale Guineas over2113m. She’s Fit was successful in the WA Oaks (G3) over 2415m. Splendiferous was successful in the G3 Premiers Cup at 2415m and the L Port Adelaide Cup over 2515m. The score of SW/r of 20% is very impressive. The female tail line is also impressive with a 6GFI of19.2%. The great sire Darshaan is the best performed horse. The PRI score is the maximum of 100.

Lot 1567 (b c Dundeel – Italia Bella)

The cross Dundeel – Fastnet Rock has produced a L SW. Cerberus won the Hill Stakes over1811m. The SW/r is only a modest 3.23%. However, the strength of the pedigree is in the female tail line with a 6GFI of 20.5%. Impressive enough, and highlighted by the mare Grand Luxe (Sir Ivor – Fanfeluche). Fanfeluche was

Fanfreluche in retirement

Canadian horse of the year and US Champion 3yo filly and when sold she was the world’s most expensive mare.  L’On Vite (dam of Holy Roman Emperor) is part of her female line. PRI score of 97.5 is worth noting.

Every Year the MM National Yearling Sale is a wonderful event. Hope you can make it.

Inglis Classic Yearling Sale 2022

Aside

The Inglis Classic Yearling Sale heralds the start of the Inglis selling season. There are 810 lots on offer from 85 sires. This venue is known for its production of racehorses successful at the classic distances. This year I have concentrated on looking for a colt that could win at the classic distances. I have selected one from Dundeel (High Chaparral – Stareel). I also uncovered a filly from Spirit of Boom ( Sequalo – Temple Spirit) whose pedigree indicates it could be a very fast horse. The Inglis Classic is not only associated with classic staying horses such as the Melbourne Cup  winner Vow and Declare (War Front – Geblitz), but has produced  fast 2yos such as the Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain – Courgette).

Dundeel (High Chaparral – Stareel)

A six times G1 winner, his victories include the AJC Derby. He has sired 16 SW to date including the classic winners Castelvecchio ( Rosehill Guineas), Super Seth (Caulfield Guineas), Truly Great (Kingston Town Classic ), and Atyaab (SAF Cape of Good Hope Derby).

Lot 412 b c Dundeel – Believe (by Fastnet Rock)

Dundeel beats Atlantic Jewel in G1 Underwood Stakes

The PRI value for this yearling is 98.3 which according to the pedigree analysis means an exceptional horse. The female line is a very encouraging 6GFI value of 10.4%. Two useful runners in this line are Gold Lottey (2x G3, VRC Stocks Stakes and VRC Vanity), and Informed (2xG2, San Diego Hcp, and California Stakes).  The cross Dundeel x Fastnet Rock has already produced a SW. Cerberus was successful in the Listed Hill Stakes at 1811m. If you are looking for a classic winner , Lot 412 deserves to be on your list.

Spirit of Boom (Sequalo – Temple Spirit)

A multiple SW. His most significant win was in the Doomben 10,000 over 1350m. He is the sire of 14 SW. None of his progeny have won beyond 1400m. Eighty percent of them have been at 1200m or shorter.

Lot 103 b f (Spirit of Boom – My Dear Friend (by General Nediym).

The PRI value for this filly is 90.8. She is bred to go fast. The female family on the dams side has a 6GFI of 3.36% . Whereas, this value is not exceptional, My Dear Friend is right where the action is. General Nediym is an underrated broodmare sire that has produced 42 SW.  Sixty percent of his progeny have won at 1200m or less.

Jameka: Broodmare sire General Nediym at his best

Rather surprisingly, 26% have won at 1600m or beyond. Included in this lot are the multiple G1 winner Jameka  (Caulfield Cup, VRC Oaks and BMW Tancred Stakes) and Mr Quickie (Queensland Derby). So the General is not just the broodmare sire of fast horses but can impart staying genes.

The cross Spirit of Boom x General Nediym is definitely speed x speed mating . The late Colin Hayes had exceptional results following this policy.  Dosage analysis confirms the breeding outcome producing Lot 103.  With 30 dosage points and a DI of 9.0 and CD 1.47 it is all speed. The closest I can find is the triple G1winner of the 1991 Kentucky Derby Strike the Gold (Alydar – Majestic Gold) with 20 dosage points, DI 9.0 and CD 1.30.

Both these horses are worth a look at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

 

Where are all the mares from top Northern Hemisphere sires

Where are all the mares from top Northern Hemisphere sires?

Australian breeders are bringing the best stallion bloodlines to Australia, however, mares from the top broodmare sires in the northern hemisphere are quite rare. We have never had two US Triple Crown winners reported to stand at the same time for 2020. But what about the mares from top Broodmare sires of the Northern Hemisphere? At the Gold Coast MM National Broodmare and Weanling Sale such mares are very rare.

Top Broodmare sires of the Northern Hemisphere

Bloodhorse ranks Giant’s Causeway as the leading broodmare sire in the Northern Hemisphere. From 397 runners he produced 180 winners (45%w/r) and 12 SW. In the top ten, the Halo line through Sunday Silence has two representatives. A P Indy and French Deputy also have two each. None of these broodmare sires have any mares in the sale. Why is it so? Are Australian breeders more interested in black type form in weak listed races than in pedigrees? Perhaps these mares are too expensive for them? Perhaps the market responds to form in listed races and regard pedigree of little importance? Halo dominance goes further than the top ten. In rankings 11-20, the broodmare sire through Halo has an additional four stallions. The total is six out of the top twenty (30%).

Giant’s Causeway

Giant’s Causeway is the only Broodmare sire in the top ten of the Northern Hemisphere represented at the Sale. He has two lots. How will their progeny measure up?

Lot 572 Blueberry Smoothie (Giant’s Causeway-Shampoo) in foal to The Autumn Sun

Blueberry Smoothie has a Mares’ Mating Index (MMI) of 540 which is useful but 30% below the best I have measured. The PRI score is 66.7 % which doesn’t suggest great things are in store for the progeny. The analysis is hindered by the fact that The Autumn Sun is at the start of his stud career and has no runners let alone SW. Dosage suggest at horse at his best at the classic distances. Danehill and most of his sons cross well with Storm Cat broodmare lines so that is something in the mare’s favour.

Lot 637 Elahi (Giant’s Causeway-Tempest Morn) in foal to Dundeel

Elahi has a Mares’ Mating Index (MMI) rating of 590 which is 25% below the best. The PRI score is a modest 71%. However, there is some good news here. Of the ten SW of Dundeel, three have Storm Bird represented in their female line. The most relevant is Transact (Dundeel-Rap Tale, by Tale of the Cat) who was successful in the VRC St Leger over 2800m. Dosage suggests a strong stayer, so if you are looking for a potential Melbourne Cup horse, this could be it. You probably need a colt as all ten Dundeel stake winners have been of the male variety..

Summary

Before leaving the subject of Giant’s Causeway, a word about what a great racehorse this six times G1 winner was .One of these wins was the Irish Champion Stakes but his best performance was in the 2000 Breeders Cup Classic. He didn’t win, but his performance was that of a real Champion. Three times America’s top sire, European Champion horse in 2000, and now top broodmare sire. What is left to achieve?