From Merinos To Millions - The Bell River Story Behind Australia’s Record Stallion
Bell River Graduate Extreme Choice set a new peak in Australian breeding history with a record setting fee of $385,000.
Despite his fertility issues, he is globally recognised as one of the most elite stallions we’ve ever seen in the thoroughbred industry where his record breaking fee is a reflection of performance not hype.
For Andrew Ferguson, it’s the culmination of a journey that started far from the winner’s circle converting from his Fairfield Grange Merino Sheep Stud at Trangie to Bell River Thoroughbreds out at Wellington and now Dungog, learning the game from the ground up and daring to believe a small farm could produce something extraordinary.
“To think about all those years ago when we made the switch from sheep to thoroughbreds… to breed a horse like this, you pinch yourself, you pinch yourself every time you hear about him, every time you see his progeny in the sale ring, winning elite races and even a poster of him where the BR brand sits that he’ll always carry which is truly an honour”
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2026 YEARLING SALES SEASON
A Season That Speaks For Itself
Eighteen sold from nineteen presented. Top tier vendor averages at three major sales. For a family run farm, the 2026 season was one for the history books.
Across Magic Millions Gold Coast, Inglis Classic and Inglis Melbourne Premier Bell River Thoroughbreds presented 19 yearlings and sold 18 finishing the season with an overall average of $283,611.
That number alone tells part of the story. But the fuller picture is in the rankings. Each of the three sales attracts a minimum of 50 vendors. To place in the top tier at all three and to claim a vendor average title is something very few farms in the country can say they've done in a single season. For a small, family-owned and family run operation, it's a result that means everything.
Magic Millions Gold Coast — 6th on Vendors Average | $345,556
Inglis Classic — 2nd on Vendors Average for three or more sold | $160,000
Inglis Melbourne Premier — 1st on Vendors Average | $301,250
These results speaks to the consistency of what we produce, the depth of our draft and the standard we hold ourselves to across every sale we enter and on a daily base in running our operation.
At Bell River, we've always believed that a truly great result isn't measured by overall average alone. It's measured by how each individual horse performs within its own sire crop, not just against the rest of our draft but against every other horse by that stallion sold anywhere in the country.
This season, the horses answered that question.
Anamoe x Prophets Thumb filly sold for $650,000 — 9th highest priced Anamoe for the year
Anamoe x Secret Doubt filly sold for $600,000 — 14th highest priced Anamoe for the year
Pinatubo x Bleu Zebra filly sold for $600,000 — highest priced Pinatubo for 2026 and 2nd highest ever
All Too Hard x Star Progeny filly sold for $420,000 — highest priced All Too Hard this year and 12th highest ever
Toronado x Justice Glory colt sold for $375,000 — 9th highest Toronado for the year and the highest at the Premier Sale for his sire
Dundeel x Irithea colt sold for $350,000 — 10th highest Dundeel for the year and the highest at the Premier Sale for his sire
Tassort x Singular Sensation colt sold for $220,000 — 3rd highest priced Tassort for the year
Spirit Of Boom x Ashra Jane colt sold for $200,000 — 8th highest priced Spirit Of Boom for the year
Nulka x State Of Rest filly sold for $200,000 — 3rd highest priced State Of Rest for the year
Baroness x Tassort colt — 4th highest priced Tassort for the year
Brazen Beau x Ceilidh filly sold for $150,000 — 3rd highest Brazen Beau for the year and the highest at the Premier Sale for her sire
This is what Bell River is built for. A small, family run farm that never loses sight of what drives us. Small Farm Big Results isn't just a motto; it's how we work every single day.
#SmallFarmBigResults
#ItsInOurBlood
Bell River Thoroughbreds Top Vendor List In Triumphant Return To Inglis Premier Sale 2026
After more than a decade away, Bell River Thoroughbreds has made a resounding statement on return to the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale topping the Book 1 Vendors Average in what proved to be a remarkable and hard earned result.
This was a sale we had identified early, making the decision to target it back in April 2025. While the journey to get there wasn’t without its challenges the outcome made it all worthwhile. From logistical setbacks with our walker breaking down along the way, we were forced to adapt on the run. It was a true team effort digging deep when it mattered most to ensure the horses arrived and presented at their absolute best.
The sale delivered an outstanding result for the farm. Across four Book 1 yearlings, Bell River Thoroughbreds achieved an exceptional average of $301,250 securing the prestigious Vendors Average Title. Highlights for Book 1 include:
Lot 126 Anamoe x Inthemidstofbiz sold for $280,000
Lot 128 Dundeel x Irithea sold for $350,000
Lot 139 Toronado x Justice Glory sold for $375,000
Lot 323 Home Affairs x Seven Sonnets sold for $200,000
Meanwhile our sole Book 2 offering, a quality filly by Brazen Beau out of Ceilidh sold impressively for $150,000 which lead to our overall average of a very pleasing $271,000 across five yearlings securing our position as the leading vendor by average across both books.
Success at this level is never achieved alone. A special mention must go to the Liston family at Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, whose incredible support in the final week of preparation allowing James to base himself at their property with the team of horses proved invaluable.
And on a more personal note, a heartfelt thank you to James’ wife Mary, who quite literally went the extra mile travelling down to Victoria and assisting James when we needed it most.
This result is a testament to the resilience, planning and belief behind Bell River Thoroughbreds. A small farm taking on the biggest stage and delivering.
#SmallFarmBigResults
#ItsInOurBlood
Bell River Thoroughbreds 6th on Vendor Average at 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale
What an unbelievable two weeks at the 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sale. With our stunning draft of 10 yearlings, predominantly fillies, we’re proud to finish 6th on the vendors average list with an average of $345,556, just $16,000 shy of the top four. An outstanding result and a huge achievement for a family owned, family run, truly hands on operation. Highlights from the week include -
Lot 703 Anamoe x Prophets Thumb filly sold for $650,000
Lot 780 Anamoe x Secret Doubt filly sold for $600,000
Lot 111 Pinatubo x Bleu Zebra filly sold for $600,000 (highest priced Pinatubo)
Lot 855 All Too Hard x Star Progeny filly sold for $420,000 (highest priced All Too Hard)
Lot 811 Tassort x Singular Sensation colt sold for $220,000 (highest priced Tassort)
Lot 69 Spirit Of Boom x Ashra Jane colt sold for $200,000
Lot 628 Nulka x State Of Rest filly sold for $200,000 (2nd highest priced State Of Rest)
Thank you to our loyal clients, both long standing and new along with our dedicated crew back home. We truly couldn’t do this without your support and hard work.
We wish all the new purchasers the very best of luck and hope your new horses go on to add to our strike rate of 22% black type winners/runners of horses offered at the Magic Millions Book 1 Sale by Bell River.
#SmallFarmBigResults
#ItsInOurBlood
A Standout 2024/2025 Season at Bell River Thoroughbreds
What a season it’s been for Bell River Thoroughbreds in 2024/25. With five generations of family dedication to the land, this year has truly highlighted the rewards of hands on, consistent management of both stock and soil.
On the track, our graduates shone brightly. Another Prophet led the way with a memorable Group 1 win, while Bel Merci, Gin Spirit, Chrysaor, and Farcited all delivered Group and Listed level success in what was a standout season. From a carefully curated foal crop of just 35, we produced three Group performing two year olds and celebrated six individual 2YO winners. Even more impressively, 36% of our 2024 Magic Millions Book 1 draft are already 2YO winners a strike rate that speaks volumes about the quality, preparation and care that goes into every horse we raise.
In the sales ring, the momentum continued. The 2025 Weanling Sale Series delivered a string of standout results, including:
- Top priced Home Affairs weanling colt
- Top priced Spirit of Boom weanling filly
- Top priced State of Rest weanling filly
- 2nd and 4th highest priced Farnan weanlings
- 4th highest priced Starspangledbanner weanling
Our yearling results followed suit, featuring the highest priced Lonhro yearling sold in the past two years, as well as the 3rd highest priced Pierro and Harry Angel yearlings and the 6th highest priced Farnan yearling.
These achievements are a testament to our dedicated team and our unwavering commitment to doing the little things right day in and day out. It’s the embodiment of our motto: Small Farm, Big Results.
This season also marked another proud milestone in the legacy of Extreme Choice, a stallion we bred and sold, who now stands as the sire of both a Golden Slipper and a Melbourne Cup winner a powerful reminder of what Australian breeding can achieve.
Here’s to the season that was and to the future we’re building with every foal, every sale, and every stride on the track.
#SmallFarmBigResults
#ItsInOurBlood
Gin Spirit’s Victory Marks the second 2yo Stakes Win for Bell River Thoroughbreds in the 2024/2025 Racing Season
Bell River Thoroughbreds is thrilled to announce that Gin Spirit (Spirit Of Boom x Premeditated), trained by the Hayes brothers, emerged a dominant winner in the Listed Cinderella Stakes race this past weekend, becoming the second 2yo Stakes Winner from the farm’s new property this racing season and the fourth overall for 2024/2025 season. This triumph highlights the dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to excellence that the team has poured into their operations since moving to the new facility.
Gin Spirit’s success is another significant milestone for Bell River Thoroughbreds, adding to the growing list of stakes-winning graduates from the new farm. She joins fellow stars, including Group 1 Winner Another Prophet, Group 2 Winner Chrysaor, and Group 3 Winner Bel Merci all of whom represent the farm’s ability to consistently produce world class racehorses.
“To have two 2yo Stakes victories in one season from a foal crop of just 35 truly encapsulates our motto of ‘Small Farm, Big Results,’” said Stud Owner Andrew Ferguson. “Transitioning to a new farm and starting a broodmare herd from scratch isn’t easy. If you’d told me six years ago we’d be in this position now, I wouldn’t have believed you. This success is a testament to my two boys, James and Jock. They’re the real driving force behind this new farm at the moment.”
As Bell River Thoroughbreds continues to grow and evolve, the team remains focused on producing more success stories like Gin Spirit’s, proving that persistence, hard work, and a belief in their vision will continue to shape their future and the next generation of top racehorses.
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#ItsInOurBlood
