This years Golden Slipper favourite Chayan has delivered one of the most extraordinary sale results in Australian racing history, fetching a staggering $5.6 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale sale.
Prepared by Annabel and Ron Archibald, the talented filly had gone to the Golden Slipper as favourite after a dazzling win in the Group II ATC Reisling Stakes, marking her as a filly of immense promise. However, few could have predicted the scale of what unfolded in the sale ring.
🚨#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
Offered by Newgate on behalf of owner Eric Koh, Chayan handled the parade at Riverside Stable with professionalism, drawing a large crowd as heavyweight operations Coolmore and Yulong went head-to-head in a fierce bidding battle.
Coolmore’s Tom Magnier stood ringside with his team, while Yulong bid remotely via the ‘green screen’, with the price quickly soaring past $2 million, then $3 million and $4 million before Magnier secured the filly with a final bid of $5.6 million.
The figure makes Chayan the most expensive horse in training ever sold by Inglis, representing a phenomenal return on investment after Koh purchased her for $250,000 as a yearling from Longwood Thoroughbred Farm at the Magic Millions sale.
“Unbelievable, unbelievable… I came here thinking maybe 3.6m, but to go beyond 4million and then 5 million is just unbelievable,” said an elated Eric Koh.
“I have a heavy heart now to lose her and obviously she’s special. From day one I inspected her three times, and then to see her here today, solid, nice, not 100% in front, but that is why she was cheap back then and I was able to afford to buy her.”
Koh explained the decision to offer Chayan at the sale was made after discussions with Inglis, Newgate and a trusted confidant.
“Having bought horses and attended sales, this is the biggest result and achievement for myself, so I am very happy and very satisfied,” he said.
“Like I said, I have a heavy heart and am sad to lose her, but happy for Tom and Coolmore and I think she has huge potential ahead.”
Chayan is out of Group-winning Snitzel mare Lubiton, who was later sold by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for $400,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Ridgeport Holdings.
Lubiton now resides at Yarraman Park and is currently in foal to Chayan’s sire I Am Invincible.
