The prized filly closed out the premium section, but Chayan delivered big by rewriting history at Inglis’s Chairman’s Sale in Sydney on Thursday night.
Daughter of I Am Invincible and two-year-old standout, having triumphed in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes this year and favoured in the Golden Slipper, she realised $5.6 million to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier.
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This sale established the highest figure for a two-year-old filly at public auction Down Under, overtaking the $4.2m Chairman’s Sale record from The Everest winner Bella Nipotina last year.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Chayan stands as the second most costly filly or mare at public auction, after Imperatriz’s $6.6m from the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
A $250,000 buy at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Chayan was resold by owner Eric Koh, who expressed a range of emotions post-sale.
“Unbelievable, I came here thinking maybe $3.6 million would be tops, at best, but to go beyond four (million), beyond 5 (to) 5.6 is unbelievable,” Koh said.
“This is obviously the biggest result and achievement for myself, so I’m very happy, very satisfied but heavy-hearted to lose her.
“I’m happy for Coolmore, for Tom (Magnier) and I think she’s got huge potential ahead.”
Chayan’s ongoing racing talent was central to her allure, with Annabel and Rob Archibald handling her career up to now.
Debuting with second to Streisand in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m), she underperformed in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), then excelled in the Sydney-based Reisling Stakes.
Her Reisling win brought a Timeform rating of 111, topping all two-year-old fillies in Australia this season.
As $5.50 favourite in the Golden Slipper, Chayan finished fifth, beaten by slightly more than four lengths courtesy of Guest House.
Magnier verified that Rob and Annabel Archibald would retain training duties for Chayan, a filly he had to battle for.
“When you have a filly as highly-rated and thought of as she is you expect to have all the top people on her,” he said.
“We’re delighted to get her, we’ll need a bit of luck but it’s over to Rob and Annabel now.”
The sale saw nine lots hit $1m-plus, with Benedetta, daughter of Hellbent and Group 1 winner, the top mare at $1.9m.
Yulong acquired her and snapped up Provence (three-time Kiwi Group 1 winner) for $1.8m, Snow In May and Hazlebrook at $1,050,000, Moldova $1m.
Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida invested $1.4m in Philia, Stefan Pardi $1.2m on Kiki Express, Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage $1m for Arabian Summer.
Totalling just over $39m from 115 lots, mares averaged $494,747 with $300,000 median.
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