Highfield Thoroughbreds Debut at Inglis Australia Sale

The progeny of some of Australasia's most sought-after stallions will headline the Inglis Australia Great Southern Weanling Sale, where a catalog of more than 400 lots is set to go under the hammer across two days at Oaklands Junction. The sale, which begins June 11, features weanlings by more than 100 stallions, including established commercial names alongside the first crops of several exciting young sires. Strong local vendor support has again underpinned the Victorian auction, with 48 consignors represented, including many of Australia's leading nurseries such as Burnewang North, Gilgai Farm, Widden Stud, Rosemont Stud, Blue Gum Farm, and Three Bridges Thoroughbreds. Among them is first-time Great Southern vendor Karen Sinclair, who will offer a seven-strong draft under her recently established Highfield Thoroughbreds banner. A longtime yearling manager for several leading operations including Rosemont Stud, Sinclair is preparing for a new challenge as she presents her own consignment at Oaklands Junction this week. Sinclair explained that her recent decision to sell weanlings under her own name sprouted from an astute acquisition of a colt by Toronado (IRE). "It's been a form of natural evolution in my world which I didn't expect to happen," Sinclair told ANZ News. "I've got some lovely types that I'm proud of. They tick a lot of boxes for everyone—I know everyone says that but they really do. They all walk well, really sensible, we've put the hard yards into them. The star of Sinclair's cohort is indeed Lot 164—her son of Toronado out of a half sister to the group 3-winning Dubawi (IRE) mare Lady Of Harrods, who herself has produced stakes winner Omaha City. "He just shines. He really does, and he's holding it together so well," Sinclair said. Lot 322 is a Toronado filly out of Awesome Planet (Giant's Causeway), making her a half sister to group 1 winner Awesome Rock. The Great Southern Weanling Sale has continued to build momentum in recent years, producing headline performers at both ends of the marketplace. This season's Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) winner Streisand (AUS) was sourced from the sale for just AU$22,000, while unbeaten multiple stakes winner Well Written (AUS) was purchased for AU$32,500 before going on to claim the AU$4 million NZB Kiwi and group 1 honors. The auction has also become a proven source of pinhooking success, with a number of standout yearling resale results in 2026 tracing their origins to last year's Great Southern Sale. Inglis Victorian bloodstock manager James Price said the depth of quality throughout the catalog and the strength of vendor participation had generated significant optimism ahead of the sale. "Our weanling sales series has strong momentum and the success of the Great Southern Sale is a big part of that," Price said. "Opportunity abounds at this sale, whether you are a trader, trainer, owner, agent or syndicator, and the combination of sale ring and racetrack results that have their origin at this sale is compelling." Selling gets underway at 1 p.m. local time Thursday.