$5.6m Chayan sale sparks bubble debate
Market forces pushed Riesling Stakes winner Chayan to a $5.6 million record price for the Chairman’s Sale, but like the Sydney housing bubble, is it sustainable?
Coolmore prevailed over Yulong to win the filly as the big dogs of Australian breeding locked horns with the Irish this time and refused to yield.
Chayan, which finished midfield in the Golden Slipper as favourite, had been expected to make around $4 million and the fact Ciaron Maher’s team was still in play beyond $3 million shows the interest in her.
“I came here thinking maybe $3.6m, that would be tops. To go beyond four, beyond five to A$5.6, unbelievable,” Singapore-based owner Eric Koh said.
“From day one [at Magic Millions] we inspected her three times and then to see her today. She wasn’t 100 per cent in front but that’s why she was so cheap. I wouldn’t have been able to afford her [otherwise] back then. To sell her tonight is amazing.”
But it came down to Coolmore v Yulong and the drama played out as phones were passed to Tom Magnier as the bidding rocketed into record territory.
This was a line in the sand moment.
Yulong had dominated the sale before the final lot, spending $8.4 million on eight mares. They were never going home with a ninth purchase.
“We’re trying to go out and really get behind [Coolmore stallion] Super Seth, the plan will be that she’ll race for Georg Von Opel, Derrick Smith and Dad [John Magnier] and then she’ll go to Super Seth. We’re just delighted to get her,” Magnier said.
“It shows how strong the market is in Australia when a filly comes in like that. We’ll need a bit of luck with her, so fingers crossed.”
At a sale that lacked the quality expected and marketed by Inglis, Chayan stood out to buyers. A rare jewel in a group that, on the whole, failed to glitter.
But look at the family. Sheamus Mills, who has bought and sold much of it, paid $525,000 for a Zoustar half-sister to top the Perth Yearling Sale in February.
Chayan started $51 on debut in the Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude where she was runner-up to Streisand, before being down the track in the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper, but she found the perfect storm in the ring.
While Inglis tried to push the Chairman’s Sale as a raging success, reality was it was all at the top of the buying bench, five breeders combined to take home 20 of the 115 mares catalogued for more than half the $39 million gross of the sale.
The drop off in quality was remarkable with many breeders left unimpressed, and with plenty of money to spend on the Gold Coast at the end of the month.
🚨#InglisChairmans RECORD BREAKING PRICE!
Queen of the year, CHAYAN (Lot 115) and final lot of the night sells to @CoolmoreAus for a record price of $5,600,000. The G2-winner was on offer from @NewgateFarm. pic.twitter.com/TNIlU7HO0N— Inglis (@inglis_sales) May 7, 2026
Rodeo Drive could fly to the Eagle
Damien Lane lifted another Japanese Group 1 coming with a barnstorming finish to win Sunday’s NHK Cup on Rodeo Drive, which appears an ideal challenger for Sheza Alibi in the Golden Eagle later in the year.
Australian Turf Club racing general manager Nevesh Ramdhani has already been in contact with his owner, Northern Farm’s Katsumi Yoshida, about the prospects of getting Rodeo Drive, which looks like a powerhouse miler, to Sydney.
“That race has been a good pointer for the Golden Eagle and he was very impressive,” Ramdhani said.
The NHK Mile has provided the Golden Eagle winner in 2023, Obamburumai, and the unplaced favourite in 2024, Ascoli Piceno, while last year the winner, Panja Tower, ran fifth to Autumn Glow.
Rodeo Drive settled with only a couple behind him in the Group 1 but Lane got him to the centre of the track and he gunned down Ask Ikigomi by a nose with Admire Quads another 1-1/4 length back in third.
“His best trait is his closing speed,” Lane said. “He was able to close off really strongly today and sustained a strong run to the finish.”
“The colt is improving all the time. Now he has performed very well at Group 1 level, I expect him to race at this level for some time.”
It was Lane’s seventh Group 1 victory in Japan, which puts him behind only James McDonald for international top-level wins by an Australian-based jockey.
【NHKマイルカップ（GⅠ）】
D.レーン騎手騎乗の #ロデオドライブ が優勝🏇アスクイキゴミとのゴール前の大接戦を制してGⅠ初制覇🔥
🔽レース結果はこちらhttps://t.co/GQOdtpEAIu pic.twitter.com/DiRUoeClFt
— JRA公式 (@JRA_Special) May 10, 2026
McDonald gets Wathnan gig
Wathnan Racing has confirmed James McDonald will be its second jockey for Royal Ascot behind the retained James Doyle.
McDonald will have the rides on Chris Waller-trained Generosity and Joliestar in the Group 1 sprints at the Royal meeting, but Wathnan will provide him with a good book throughout the five-day meeting, which is their main focus for the year.
“James came up for Royal Ascot last year and we were delighted to provide him with a winner in Crimson Advocate,” Wathnan’s racing advisor Richard Brown said.
“We will hopefully have a strong team heading to the meeting this time, and while James Doyle is obviously our number one jockey, we’re delighted to have secured the services of James McDonald when we have multiple runners in a number of races.”
McDonald became close friends with Doyle when both had retained roles for Godolphin and will use his agent Chris Humpleby for booking during Royal Ascot.
The World’s Best Jockey for the past two years, McDonald should be in demand, even though he is a visitor.
“I’m really looking forward to coming to Royal Ascot again this year. It’s some of the finest racing anywhere in the world and it’s a privilege to compete at the meeting,” McDonald said.
“Having experienced riding a Group 1 winner there, it’s such a special feeling and nothing else compares. To have the support of Wathnan Racing at Royal Ascot is a great honour and hopefully I’ll also have the backing of other trainers I’ve enjoyed success with in the past. I can’t wait.”
Don’t chase and Jenni is unbeatable
There is nothing like watching a leader like Pride Of Jenni do would what she does best.
Punters cheer for her because it is brave and courageous.
She is a modern-day Vo Rogue and when she gets her way with a field, Pride Of Jenni is unbeatable.
Her win in the Hollindale Stakes was a reminder to all jockeys behind her what happens when you don’t chase early. But there is always a fear in doing that you bust your own horse.
Jenni doesn’t stop, so you need to be within a couple of lengths turning to get your chance to run her down.
Jockey Declan Bates has become a master of doing his own thing on Pride Of Jenni and rarely looks back.
There will be a different mentality from those trying to beat her in the Doomben Cup at her next start.
