The 2026 edition of the Inglis Chairman's Sale finished with a bang when Chayan (I Am Invincible), the final lot to go through the ring at Riverside Stables, sold to Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier for A$5.6 million, a new record price for the sale.
The previous record for the Chairman's Sale was held by the multiple Group 1 winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), who was sold to her breeder and part-owner Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for A$4.2 million last year.
The new record also sees Chayan become the second most expensive mare to ever sell in the Southern Hemisphere behind the 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), who was purchased by Yulong and partner Zhijun Zhao for A$6.6 million at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
The two-year-old Chayan went under the hammer having impressed in four starts for Annabel and Rob Archibald, notably winning the G2 Reisling Stakes at Randwick in March. Later that month, she finished eighth, beaten less than four lengths, in the G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill.
The daughter of I Am Invincible and the G3 Tesio Stakes heroine Lubiton (Snitzel) first changed hands at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when knocked down to owner Eric Koh for A$250,000.
🚨#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
Koh was in shock in the immediate aftermath of Thursday's record-breaking sale.
“It's unbelievable,” he added. “I came here thinking maybe A$3.6 million would be the absolute top for her, so to go beyond four, beyond five, five point six – unbelievable.
“It's an amazing result. It got to a point when I cried a little myself and thought, 'Stop already.' But they just kept going. It was unbelievable.
“This is obviously the biggest result and achievement for myself. I'm very happy, very satisfied and, like I said, heavy hearted to lose her but happy for Coolmore, for Tom [Magnier]. I think she has huge potential ahead.”
Magnier confirmed that Chayan would remain in the care of Rob and Annabel Archibald.
“When there's a filly as highly rated and highly thought of as she is, you expect to have all of the top people on her, and that's clearly how things played out,” said Magnier after coming out on top in a battle with the team at Yulong.
“I'm delighted for Eric. He's a really good guy and he's done very well out of her. Yulong are always very strong and that was some duel.
“Rob and Annabel have been calling me all week about this filly and, in fairness, they do a great job. Rob was our racing manager once upon a time, so I said, 'We'll give this filly back to you if we buy her.'
“Hopefully, she's lucky on the track and keeps going but, at the end of her racing days, I think she'd suit a stallion like Super Seth. But there's a lot of racing upside there yet – it's over to Rob and Annabel now.”
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