The 2025 Sydney Breeding Stock Sales Series has drawn to a close after a historic run of events that saw the Australian bloodstock market reach new heights. Capping off the week with the Australian Broodmare Sale, the series delivered exceptional figures across all metrics, highlighting the continued strength and demand in the thoroughbred breeding industry.
This year’s series achieved a remarkable overall turnover of more than $77 million, surpassing the previous record set just last year. Held across the Australian Weanling Sale, the Chairman’s Sale, and the Australian Broodmare Sale, each component contributed significantly to the overall success. The results not only broke records but also reasserted Sydney’s standing as a premier destination for high-quality breeding stock.
The Australian Weanling Sale stood out with its best-ever total sales and achieved the highest price ever paid for a foal at auction in the country. The sale reaffirmed its position as the top destination for weanling purchases, drawing strong interest from both domestic and international buyers.
The Chairman’s Sale proved to be one of the most memorable events of the series, offering a dazzling mix of elite mares and commanding top-dollar returns. Among its highlights were an all-time high for total revenue, a record average price per lot, and a notable number of million-dollar sales. The standout of the sale reached $4.2 million, underscoring the appetite for premium bloodstock among high-end buyers.
Sebastian Hutch, CEO of Inglis Bloodstock, expressed pride in the achievements of the past week. He noted that exceeding the previous record by over $11 million was a testament to the hard work of the team and the support from the breeding community. Hutch emphasized the atmosphere and quality of the events, particularly the Chairman’s Sale, which many attendees described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Gratitude was extended to all the owners, breeders, and buyers whose participation made the series such a resounding success. Special acknowledgment was given to the teams behind standout mares like Bella Nipotina and Amelia’s Jewel, whose entries into the sale were met with strong results and great appreciation from the market.
One of the stars of the Australian Broodmare Sale was Zelify, a Snitzel mare in foal to promising young sire Ole Kirk. Offered by Lime Country Thoroughbreds, she was snapped up by Omen Thoroughbreds for $280,000. Jo Griffin of Lime Country was pleased with the outcome, noting that Zelify had been presented to stand out and had achieved just that. The mare was part of a rotation-based trading agreement, and Griffin also mentioned the upcoming sale of her Pierro filly next year.
Lime Country also enjoyed earlier success in the weanling section of the series, having sold all their entries, which were carefully selected for the sale. Griffin highlighted the advantages of presenting stock in NSW, particularly from a logistics standpoint, and felt the decision paid off handsomely.
As the curtain closes on the Sydney series, attention now shifts to the Great Southern Sale in Melbourne, scheduled for June 12 and 13 at Oaklands. Entries for this sale are due by 9am on the upcoming Monday, providing a quick turnaround for those looking to continue their engagement with Inglis sales.
In the meantime, interest turns to the Inglis Digital May (Early) Online Sale, which has just gone live. With over 500 lots catalogued, including mares, racehorses, shares, and breeding rights, the online platform offers another avenue for buyers to secure quality stock. Highlights include a share in superstar sire Extreme Choice and breeding rights to leading stallion Bivouac, as well as an in-foal half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Farnan.
Bidding for the Inglis Digital sale will start concluding on Wednesday morning, offering one more chance for participants to build on what has already been a remarkable start to the 2025 sales season.
