Yarraman’s ‘Vinnie’ remains at $220,000 for 2026
Yarraman Park Stud has announced its service fees for 2026 and once again their multiple champion sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) takes pride of place on the roster alongside his emerging sire-son Hellbent and the exciting Japanese-bred Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom), standing at an unchanged fee of $220,000 (inc GST).
I Am Invincible is known throughout the industry as ‘Vinnie’ and the Yarraman trophy cabinet is fit to burst with his Australian premierships that started with first-season honours in 2013-14 and reached a crescendo with a hat-trick of general sires titles in the seasons ending 2022, 2023 and 2024.
His Group 1 winning roll-call reached 19 after Caballus stormed home in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and is set to target the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth. Across the Tasman, his exciting two-year-old colt Seize The Day overpowered the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) field – winning by four lengths and change for Te Akau Racing.
David Ellis’ operation has had great success with Vinnie’s yearlings via ten-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz and Move To Strike who won the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and is now at stud.
Vinnie’s influence is showing no signs of slowing. “He continues to deliver on every front and he’s incredibly reliable,” Yarraman Park director Arthur Mitchell declared.
“He’s striking at 81 per cent winners to runners, 9.2 per cent stakes winners to runners and 5.5 per cent Group winners to runners.”
“What is prevalent is that Vinnie’s progeny are going on to produce so he’s a safe bet and a proven choice. If you get a colt or a filly, they could go on to produce the next Hong Kong Derby winner like Hellbent or the next Golden Slipper winner.
“Remarkably, all 12 of his sire-sons with runners have produced winners. We know how difficult it is to buy a stallion so Vinnie’s colts are a safe bet. His daughters have gone on to produce Group 1 winners in both hemispheres and we have no doubt he will be a very dominant broodmare sire.
“He’s done more than we ever dreamed. He’s continuing to give to everyone who uses him and I know we are in for another good season with him.”
I Am Invincible’s strength in the sales ring continued in 2026 as the highest-represented active sire with yearlings at Inglis Easter (41) and Magic Millions Gold Coast (40). He achieved a phenomenal average across the two sales of $622,787. And with mares such as Shillelagh (Savabeel), Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Zougotcha (Zoustar), Zou Dancer (Zoustar), Floozie (Zoustar), etc., expected to foal this season, Vinnie’s star looks set to rise higher.
Vinnie’s sire son Hellbent is developing into a genuine force in the Australasian stallion ranks. A potential champion in waiting, he sits comfortably in the Top 10 in the general sires’ list this season with $11.15 million in progeny earnings. He’s jumped from 14th last season to eighth currently, highlighting his upward trajectory.
Hellbent sired five Group 1 performers this season plus Invincible Ibis who dominated the Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m). His progeny are showing their versatility across a range of distances along with their ability to win at two, like this season’s black-type horses Zip Lock (Group 3 B J McLachlan), Revengeance ($600,000 prizemoney), Cyclotron and Hawea.
They then train on, as highlighted by his six-year-old Group 1-winning daughter Magic Time who has earned $4.5 million and Benedetta who has banked $2.4 million.
Hellbent sired two Group 1 winners from his first crop and the sky’s the limit for this young stallion who has proved himself off lesser-quality mares. There have been 15 individual stakes performers this season alone. The aforementioned juveniles, plus his Group 1-placed three-year-old daughter Savvy Hallie as well as Magic Time, Vivy Air, Fully Lit and Benedetta.
Benedetta is set to be offered at the 2026 Inglis Chairman’s Sale and the signs are positive after the 2025 breeding stock sale when Hellbent’s race fillies were bought by two global powerhouse breeding operations: Katsumi Yoshida (Northern Farm) went to $900,000 for Group 2 winner Hell Hath No Fury and Newgate Bloodstock spent $640,000 for Gold Coast Gold Pearl (1100m) winner Miss Hellfire.
In the sales ring, his 2026 yearlings made up to $600,000 at Magic Millions, bought by Michael Freedman and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA), and he averaged $300,000 at Inglis Easter with a 100 per cent clearance rate.
In the paddock, Hellbent has all bases loaded with exciting weanlings or in-foal mares including Egyptian Symbol (Stratum), Hiccups (Fastnet Rock) (the dam of Sunrays) and Octavia (Holy Roman Emperor) (the dam of King Of Sparta). With this season’s results and what’s to come, the future belongs to Hellbent.
Hellbent will stand for an increased fee of $55,000 (inc GST).
Brave Smash enters his fourth season at Yarraman Park off a positive start at the 2026 Magic Millions and Inglis yearling sales.
Buyers showed strong support and confidence in Brave Smash throughout the majors, starting with a 100 per cent clearance rate in Book 1 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He also achieved his highest-priced yearling to date when a colt out of Tetsuko (I Am Invincible) sold to George Moore Bloodstock of Hong Kong for $380,000.
At the Inglis Classic, Grahame Begg and Rohan Hughes went to $300,000 for a colt out of The Natural (Fastnet Rock). Ciaron Maher, Gary Portelli, Moody Racing, Kurrinda Bloodstock and Ready-To-Run consignor Ohukia Lodge were all across his yearlings at the sales.
Others included Fred Noffke, who purchased the 2026 Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) – Doncaster Mile (1600m) winner Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior) and Danny O’Brien who trains his Brisbane black-type winner Brave Design.
“Achieving a career-best price for a yearling this year just shows the quality of mare he’s receiving,” Yarraman’s Harry Mitchell said.
“He throws a good type, a type trainers like, and on the race track he’s going well from small numbers.
“He has seven stakes horses including a Group 1 winner from his first crop. They’re tough and enjoy their jobs just like Brave Smash and they suit our racing. We’re looking forward to seeing his two-year-olds step out and we will continue to support him along with our partners Emirates Park and others.”
When it comes to finding the right mare for Brave Smash, the appeal is straightforward. He is a stallion of consistency who leaves athletic, strong, clean-made stock with the powerful hindquarter of a natural sprinter.
Pedigree-wise, he is completely free of Danehill (Danzig) blood, carries a double cross of Northern Taste (Northern Dancer) and is the fastest son of the Sunday Silence (Halo) sireline to stand at stud in Australia. His in-foal book includes Noondie (Flying Spur), Tetsuko, Overstep (Exceed And Excel), Bonita Aurelia (Sweynesse) and Sognani (Magic Albert), the dam of Kristilli.
With four seasons of hard work by Yarraman and his shareholders completed, Brave Smash is building into one of the most exciting emerging sires in the country.
Brave Smash will stand for a slightly reduced fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
As the Yarraman roster continues to build momentum, the door remains open for breeders looking to be part of what comes next, with I Am Invincible, Hellbent and Brave Smash all poised to build on their growing influence in the seasons ahead.