‘A safe bet’ – Yarraman sticks with proven formula in 2026 service fee release

Yarraman Park’s thrice champion Australian sire I Am Invincible will again spearhead the Hunter Valley stud’s stallion roster while his son and rostermate Hellbent has been rewarded for another breakthrough season.

The Mitchell family run Scone farm on Thursday announced service fees for its three-stallion line-up, with I Am Invincible remaining at an unchanged fee of $220,000 (all fees inc GST).

His Group 1-winning son Hellbent, who is eighth on this year’s Australian sires’ premiership, four behind his father, will stand for an increased fee of $55,000 this year.

Brave Smash, who stood for a fee of $27,500 last year, will be available to breeders at $22,000 in 2026.

I Am Invincible has had two new Group 1 winners this season, with Newmarket Handicap scorer Caballus and Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Seize The Day, with his key metrics continuing to put him in elite company, Yarraman director Arthur Mitchell says.

“Vinnie continues to deliver on every front, he’s incredibly reliable. He’s striking at 81.1 per cent winners to runners, 9.2 per cent stakes winners to runners and 5.5 per cent Group winners to runners,” Mitchell says. 

“What is prevalent is that Vinnie’s progeny are going on to produce, so he’s a safe bet and a proven choice,” he said.

“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.”

I Am Invincible’s yearlings averaged $622,787 across Magic Millions and Inglis Easter this year.

Hellbent, whose maiden Group 1 winner Magic Time could bow out in next week’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick, is the sire of this year’s Hong Kong Derby winner Invincible Ibis, while his two-year-old crop features black-type performers Zip Lock, Revengeance, Cyclotron and Hawea. 

His other first-crop Group 1 winner Benedetta is entered for next month’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale.

Brave Smash’s first Yarraman Park-conceived crop of yearlings sold up to $380,000 this year, which Harry Mitchell believes is an example of the quality of mares the sprinter has received since switching from Aquis Farm in 2023.

“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,” Harry Mitchell said. 

“They’re tough and enjoy their jobs, like Brave Smash, and we know they suit our racing here. 

“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.”