Excitement Builds as Classic Yearling Sale 2026 Catalogue Goes Live

The first copies had barely finished downloading when a ripple of excitement swept through the bloodstock community — a reaction that matched the broad smile of Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch, who admitted he “struggled to hide” his delight as the Classic Yearling Sale 2026 catalogue finally went live. For an auction that has rapidly become a cornerstone of early-season buying in the Southern Hemisphere, this moment carried the anticipation of a major raceday unveiling.

A total of 798 yearlings have been confirmed for the February 8–10 auction at Riverside Stables in Sydney, forming a catalogue that blends proven sire power with a vibrant new generation of stallions. It is a line-up both broad and deep, with 113 individual sires represented — among them Extreme Choice, Snitzel, Zoustar, I Am Invincible, Too Darn Hot, Wootton Bassett and Written Tycoon.

A Broad, Diverse Catalogue for 2026
Buyers browsing this year’s offering will find an outstanding array of first-season sire representation too, with youngsters by Anamoe, Artorius, Hitotsu, Jacquinot, In The Congo, Profondo, Sejardan, State Of Rest, Stronger and Top Ranked among the 14 new names debuting in the ring.

The catalogue pulls together the work of 74 individual vendors, many presenting youngsters eligible for incentive schemes such as BOBS, VOBIS Silver, QTIS, Racing Rewards SA and Westspeed. The diversity is deliberate — a hallmark, Hutch says, of what the Classic auction now represents.

A Proven Breeding Ground for Champions 

The Classic Yearling Sale has delivered 24 G1 winners since 2018, including 13 horses that could have been purchased for $100,000 or less. Its list of recent star graduates reads like a roll call of Australasian excellence: Pride Of Jenni, Sepals, Private Harry, Skybird and, internationally, Voyage Bubble — Hong Kong’s recent Triple Crown hero.

Since 2018, 199 Classic graduates have combined for 531 victories in Hong Kong alone, while 41 horses emerging from the sale have become millionaires. The average price for an Australian Stakes winner sourced from Classic sits at $113,594 — significantly lower than other major early-season sales, reinforcing Classic’s reputation for exceptional value.

The 2026 renewal also continues the sale’s role as a launchpad for future stallions, with past graduates including Extreme Choice, Hellbent, Castelvecchio, Brazen Beau and Cosmic Force.

Confidence High Ahead of Riverside Stables Showcase 

Hutch says the depth of the 2026 catalogue speaks for itself.
“Classic doesn’t need to be ‘sold’ to breeders or vendors anymore. It’s a sale they want to be involved in, and the quality improves year after year,” he said. “We have every confidence that the 2026 renewal contains any number of top-class performers of the future.”

He pointed to the sale’s recent surge of success — the past two winners of the $1m Golden Gift (Revengeance and North England) and both recent Inglis Millennium heroes (Fully Lit and Rivellino) all hail from Classic.

“With that momentum behind us, we’re looking forward to welcoming a massive contingent of clients and friends to Riverside in February,” Hutch added.

Hard copies of the catalogue will be available within a fortnight, while digital access is now open for prospective buyers planning ahead for Sydney’s vibrant summer of yearling inspections.

For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.