‘We Love The Stallion’ – Ghaiyyath Colts Top Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at A$625,000

[Wandering Eyes]

It was another solid day of trade as the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale came to a close on Tuesday, with a Ghaiyyath colt from Wentwood Grange seizing control and topping the sale when knocked down to McEvoy Racing and Belmont Bloodstock for A$625,000.

The colt was record-breaking in several ways. He became Wentwood Grange's most expensive yearling sale result, surpassing the NZ$600,000 paid by Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and Ridgmont for an Anamoe colt out of Easifar (Pride Of Dubai) at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Sale only a matter of weeks earlier. He also set a new benchmark as the highest-priced Ghaiyyath yearling sold in the Southern Hemisphere.

Lot 668 is the fifth foal out of the dual New Zealand-winning mare Berg En Dal (Dehere), a half-sister to G3 Cuddle Stakes winner Leigh Valley (Bianconi). Leigh Valley is the dam of G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes winner Valley Girl (Mastercraftsman), whose Anamoe yearling filly sold for A$200,000 to Liam Howley Racing Pty Ltd earlier in the same sale.

New co-trainer Calvin McEvoy was understandably delighted to secure the sale-topping colt alongside his father Tony and spoke warmly of his admiration for the stallion.

“We love the stallion. He's doing very good things, isn't he? He's got everyone very excited,” said McEvoy. “We tried to buy a few in New Zealand but, unfortunately, we weren't strong enough. This is a colt that we've been really trying to piece together since I saw him on Tuesday last week.

“He's just a beautiful walker, a good strong colt off a great farm, a farm with very good statistics, so I knew we'd have to be strong. I didn't know I'd have to be that strong, but we're pleased to have him.”

He continued, “We've bought a Derby winner from this sale and a Group 1-winning 1,500-metre horse from this sale. It's been a good sale for us and we came here with a bit of confidence. I'm pleased because he was the one horse we wanted to leave here with.”

Dean Hawkins of Wentwood Grange, based near Cambridge in New Zealand, reflected on the stud's landmark result, adding, “That was unbelievable. He has been a great mover the whole week and the staff have done a terrific job.

“He was on the market at A$150,000 – he was here to not go home – but he walked so well here. You always get nervous before a sale, but I was stoked.”

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