Canning Downs dispersal confirmed for March (Late) Online Sale

Media Release - Friday March 14

An unreserved Canning Downs dispersal will be a standout feature of the Inglis Digital March (Late) Online Sale, for which entries remain open.

After 107 years of the Barnes family breeding thoroughbreds off Canning Downs in Queensland, a decision has been made to wind down the business.

As a result, a draft of mares, foals and breeding rights in Pierata and Graff will be offered in the upcoming Inglis Digital auction.

The dispersal features mares in foal to Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.

A majority of the mares in the draft will be offered in foal including Vibrant Rouge (Written Tycoon) - the dam of G1 Australasian Oaks winner Vibrant Sun – and Sancy, both of whom will be offered with pregnancies to Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.

There are also mares in foal to the likes of Harry Angel, Spirit Of Boom, Better Than Ready, All Too Hard, Microphone etc as well as mares with foals at foot by the likes of So You Think.

Among the draft is Coralina, the dam of exciting 2YO Grafterburners, which finished 4th behind Rivellino, Within The Law and Artistic Venture in the $2m Inglis Millennium at his most recent start.

Coralina herself is a three-quarter sister to G1 Golden Slipper winner Overreach.

Joy Mackay, owner of Canning Downs with her partner John Barnes, admitted the decision to disperse the farm’s stock came with mixed emotions.

“Unfortunately John’s sons just don’t have that level of interest in breeding and you need to be emotionally invested, it’s not just something you dabble in,’’ she said.

“It’s a big thing to face up to but at some stage the decision had to be made.

“There is never the perfect time but it is for us and we decided it’s better to just make the call, rather than phase things out slowly.

Advertisement

“John and I will keep some interest in racing, we have some horses that we still race because we love it.

“We hope these lovely mares have had a really good start in their careers and we will get immense pleasure out of future winners from these families.’’

Inglis’ NSW Bloodstock Operations Manager Chris Russell said it was an honour to have the opportunity to offer the Canning Downs stock on Inglis Digital.

“John and Joy are very conscientious breeders who are incredible custodians of what is a beautiful farm at Canning Downs,” Russell said.

“People looking to invest in these mares can do so knowing that they have been afforded the highest standards of care and attention, while the pedigrees have been carefully collected and developed over the years.

“It is particularly exciting to have mares carrying first crop pregnancies to Shinzo, who looks an awesome prospect for Coolmore.”

Another confirmed entry in the sale is the young broodmare Aimee’s Jewel (Proisir), in foal to Tassort.

Aimee’s Jewel is a lightly raced G3-winning mare whose first foal by Hellbent sold for $150,000 at last week’s Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands.

Entries for the Inglis Digital March (Late) Sale will close at midnight Wednesday.

To enter CLICK HERE.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Istataba adds international flavour to National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Buyers can currently bid on 11 stakes-performed mares in the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, including one that brings South American bloodlines and Singaporean racetrack performance.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
Winning Hat Trick for So You Think Filly
So You Think has ticked over $12million in seasonal earnings with 150 plus winners including seven stakes-winners and while Covert Thinking is not among the luminaries by her sire, this tenacious 3YO has won three on the trot and landed her first metro victory on Wednesday.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale Online Now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.