News

Darby strikes thrice with Digital delights

25th Sep 2024

Syndicator Scott Darby hopes he has found his next stable star after purchasing three of the top six lots in today’s Inglis Digital September (Late) Online Sale.

Darby Racing secured the top two lots – Imperial Force ($285,000) and Sandpaper ($130,000) - as well as the Stakes placed 2YO Heuristic ($110,000).

It was this time last year Darby bought exciting then-3YO colt Caballus off the Inglis Digital platform – Caballus has since won two from four and lines up in Friday night’s G1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley – and he is hopeful of similar success with today’s purchases.

“Imperial Force especially, it’s a rinse and repeat of Caballus, both 3YO colts with plenty of upside, he’ll go to Bjorn Baker as Caballus did and he’ll be set for some nice races,’’ Darby said.

“Look at it this way, he’s impeccably bred, he’s still a colt so we’ve got that up our sleeve if we need it down the track, he won his maiden in great style and he’s just come out of the Ming Dynasty, a race we had Last Command in and he beat him home and we have a really, really good opinion of Last Command.

“He’s not a cheap buy but he’s got the breeding, he’s lightly raced, he’s young with plenty of upside so he could prove to be cheap again.’’

Imperial Force (Snitzel) was offered by Coolmore and partners, who were pleased with the result of the sale.

“This is another great result for Coolmore and partners through Inglis Digital,’’ Coolmore’s John Kennedy said.

“We had significant enquiries on this colt from a wide range of buyers which is a sign of the reach Inglis Digital horses receive.

“We wish Scott Darby and his team all the best with Imperial Force and hope they have great success with him.’’

Darby confirmed Baker would also be the new trainer of Sandpaper (Snitzel) while Peter Snowden would take over from James Cummings as the new trainer of Heuristic (Street Boss).

Both Sandpaper and Heuristic were offered as part of an 18-strong Godolphin draft in the September (Late) Sale.

“They’re both quality horses, good Metro-class horses, both Stakes winners and we got great feedback from the Godolphin organisation when we were looking into them,’’ Darby continued.

“We’re always looking to bolster our top end stock and I’m confident today’s purchases will do that.

“Godolphin are terrific to buy off, vetting is very accessible, every bit of information they can give you, they do. I know a few trainers who were on these horses as well today so we had to work hard to get them but I’m pretty confident it will be worth it.’’

The Godolphin draft grossed $765,250, to the delight of its Racing and Bloodstock Manager Jason Walsh.

“We were confident in the quality of horses we had in the mix and they have indeed performed to the level we anticipated,’’ Walsh said.

“We have found the Inglis Digital platform to be an effective and efficient way for our horses to find new stables.

“Our success is clearly reflected not only in the sales figures but also in how well these horses are performing in their new colours.

“Now that they’re racing for new owners, we wish them all the best and hope for their success.’’

In total today’s Inglis Digital September (Late) Sale – which saw six horses realise $100,000 or more, taking to 91 the number of six-figure lots sold on the platform this year – grossed just shy of $3m.

Aside from the aforementioned, the other $100,000+ lots were purchased by Beaufort Bloodstock (There There), Broodmares Pty Ltd (Dream Reality) and Mailbag Bloodstock (Legio Ten).

Entries for the October (Early) Sale are now open and will remain so until midnight on Wednesday (October 2).

The Sale will run from October 4-9.

To enter CLICK HERE.

Meanwhile the on-track success of Inglis Digital graduates continued last week when Terra Mater (Wandjina) won the G3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle.

It was a second consecutive Stakes victory for the Jarrod Austin-trained Terra Mater, who also won the Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong earlier this month.

Garry Carden bought Terra Mater for just $1750 as a weanling on Inglis Digital in 2020 – the now hugely valuable mare has won eight of her 17 career starts (with a further seven minor placings) for $647,750 in prizemoney.