Record-breaking $5.6m sale for Chayan at Inglis Chairman's Sale

As the concluding entry among the elite lots, Chayan proved well worth the patience, shattering multiple records at Inglis's Chairman's Sale in Sydney Thursday night.

This two-year-old I Am Invincible filly, who claimed this season's Group 2 Reisling Stakes and was favourite for the Golden Slipper, went to Coolmore's Tom Magnier for an eye-watering $5.6 million.

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The transaction set a new benchmark for two-year-old fillies at Australian public auctions, surpassing the previous $4.2m Chairman's Sale record held by The Everest victor Bella Nipotina from last year.

Now the second-highest priced filly or mare at public sale in the Southern Hemisphere, Chayan trails only Imperatriz's $6.6m at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Originally secured for $250,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was presented by owner Eric Koh, who shared his bittersweet reaction to the 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."

Her promising racing career enhanced the filly's value, guided to date by trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald.

She placed second to Streisand in her debut Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m), faded in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), then dominated the Reisling Stakes back in Sydney.

Such a display earned her a Timeform rating of 111, the highest for any two-year-old filly in Australia this season.

Chayan was the $5.50 market elect in the Golden Slipper, where she ran fifth, missing by a fraction over four lengths to winner Guest House.

Magnier noted the Archibalds would stay on as trainers for Chayan, whom he knew would draw strong interest.

"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."

Nine horses sold for $1 million or more, led among mares by Benedetta, Hellbent's Group 1 winner, at $1.9m.

Purchased by Yulong, who also got Provence, a three-time New Zealand Group 1 winner, for $1.8m, plus Snow In May and Hazlebrook for $1,050,000 each, and Moldova at $1m.

Katsumi Yoshida from Japan paid $1.4m for Philia, Stefan Pardi $1.2m for Kiki Express, while Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage jointly took Arabian Summer for $1m.

Overall, the 115 lots generated just over $39m, with mares averaging $494,747 and median price $300,000.

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