by Martin Stevens

Frankel, an outstanding champion on the track and at stud, has been the bestselling sire at the yearling sales so far this year. 

Figures in the newly published Weatherbys Bloodstock Sales Review Part 1 2026 show that the Banstead Manor Stud resident boasts both the highest average and median prices in the ring: 728,611gns (€879,798) and 475,000gns (€573,563) respectively. 

His highest-priced lots were the full-brother to Fillies’ Mile heroine Ylang Ylang bought by MV Magnier for 4,000,000gns and the colt out of the Listed-winning Dubawi mare Crystal Zvezda purchased by Godolphin for 2,000,000gns, both at Tattersalls October Book 1.

Night Of Thunder, who looks likely to pip Frankel to become Britain and Ireland’s champion sire for the second year in a row, has the second-best yearling average in 2026 – 556,836gns (€672,380) – and fourth-best median – 270,000gns (€326,025). 

The Kildangan Stud kingpin was responsible this year for the most expensive yearling colt ever sold in Europe, the son of the Listed-winning Sea The Stars mare My Astra who was bought by Godolphin for 4,600,000gns at Book 1.

US Triple Crown victor Justify, whose leading runners this year included top stayer Scandinavia and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Haffner, has produced the third-best average and median price of any sire at the European yearling sales this season – 553,123gns (€667,896) and 303,210gns (€366,125).

The dearest Justify yearling in Europe this season is the half-brother to Group 2 winner Poker Face bought by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 1,600,000gns at Book 1.

Night Of Thunder’s sire Dubawi,who is exerting an ever-deepening influence on the breed from his base at Dalham Hall Stud, fielded the fourth-best average and second-best median at the yearling sales – 491,214gns (€593,141) and 375,000gns (€452,813).

Dubawi was represented by only four lots of that age at auction this year, though, and only two of those sold – fillies out of Group 1 winners Sweet Lady and Peaceful who respectively made 925,000gns at Book 1 and €350,000 at Goffs Orby.

The penultimate yearling crop of Coolmore’s prolific late sire Wootton Bassett was also in strong demand at auction in Europe, commanding the fifth-highest yearling average and median of420,055gns (€507,217) and 225,943gns (€272,825).

His most expensive lot was the colt out of Deadly Nightshade, a Justify full-sister to Scandinavia, who topped the Arqana August Yearling Sale at €4.6 million.

Baaeed evidently impressed the market with his debut two-year-old runners this year as the brilliant son of Sea The Stars was the most popular freshman sire at the yearling sales in Europe, and by quite some margin. His second-crop lots sold for an average of 145,175gns (€175,299) and median of 135,000gns (€163,013). 

Bayside Boy, this season’s breakthrough first-season sire, was popular too, with the Ballylinch Stud-based son of New Bay’s representatives being knocked down for an average of 52,546gns (€63,449) and median of 43,064gns (€52,000).

Chaldean, who stands alongside his sire Frankel at Banstead Manor Stud, achieved the highest median among the new sires at the European yearling sales – 78,675gns (€95,000) – with 73 of his introductory lots selling in total.

Little Big Bear, a top-class son of No Nay Never who stands at Coolmore, had the best average price in this cohort of 113,730gns (€137,330) for 53 lots sold. That figure was boosted by the sale of a half-brother to former high-class two-year-old Castle Star to Godolphin for 750,000gns at Book 1.

Two major-league international sires each had one yearling go on the market in Europe this year and both lots sold for small fortunes.

Newsells Park Stud sold a filly by Japanese world champion Equinox out of the Group 2-winning New Approach mare Waldlied to Godolphin for 550,000gns, and Haras d’Etreham sold a filly by prominent young sire Not This Time out of the Listed-winning Kodiac mare By All Means to Miguel Clement for €450,000.

For more insights into stallion performance at this year’s yearling sales, purchase the Bloodstock Sales Review Park 1 2026 at the Weatherbys Shop online.

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