News

G1 for Inglis Digital caps big 24 hours

18th Sep 2021

A second G1 winner for the Inglis Digital platform, a timely G3 win by a Ready2Race graduate and another dominant Stakes victory by a Premier Sale mare highlighted another big 24 hours for Inglis graduates.

In New Zealand, Callsign Mav (Atlante) made it back-to-back wins in the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings, a huge result for the Inglis online auctions and Adam Nelson of Nelson Thoroughbreds.

Nelson was an original owner of Callsign Mav and when another 36% share was offered in last year’s October (Early) Online Auction, he quickly put together a syndicate of family and friends to purchase it for $85,000.

Since then, Callsign Mav has raced six times for two wins, three seconds and a third – five of those in Stakes races – including today’s big G1.

Today was the horse’s second G1 success and it won’t be long until he is given his next chance at the top level – Callsign Mav will start a dominant favourite in the Windsor Park Plate in a fortnight.

And then, it’s potentially the ultimate dream. He is booked on a flight to Melbourne days after the Windsor Park where, all going well, he will line up in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 23.

“I initially bought 50% of the horse, gifted my dad 5% for his birthday and my mate and business partner shared the rest and I was left with 36% so when this other 36% share became available I got my sister, a few mates, a big group of guys together to buy it and we’re all having the time of our lives,’’ an elated Nelson said.

“It’s such a big thrill, I’m so thrilled for the others especially, they are loving the whole experience.

“He’s a great horse and he just keeps doing it. He made the leap from three to four and now again from four to five.

“I’ve bought a number of horses through Inglis Digital, mares, a 2YO, tried horses, I think it’s great, I’m a fan and I don’t miss a sale.’’

Callsign Mav becomes the second G1 winner off the Inglis Digital platform following Bella Vella’s success in the Robert Sangster last year.

It was an Inglis Stakes double at Caulfield today as Lightsaber (G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude) and Bella Nipotina (G3 How Now Stakes) both secured strong victories.

For the Ready2Race star Lightsaber (Zoustar), his win saw him come into the fifth line of betting for the G1 Caulfield Guineas in three weeks’ time and asserted himself one of the leading 3YOs in one of the more open crops of recent years.

Lightsaber (pictured) has raced just eight times and today’s win was his fourth overall and second at Stakes level.

Blueblood Thoroughbreds bought him at last year’s Ready2Race Sale for $100,000 from Shaun Nolen’s JCS Thoroughbreds, who initially purchased him at the Classic Yearling Sale from Aquis for $80,000.

Blueblood’s Carol Walsh said: “We almost missed out on buying him, our budget was $90,000 but when we missed on that bid we went one more to $100,000 and got him.

“He was such a great type and David [Mourad of Blueblood Thoroughbreds] really wanted him, we liked the Zoustars, he had an all-round lovely conformation, nice breeding, and just a really nice-looking colt.

“We’ve had some nice results out of the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, horses like Zero Doubt and other metro winners, they always sell down really quickly to clients from the 2YO Sale so we can’t wait for next month’s sale at Riverside.’’

The 2021 Inglis Ready2Race catalogue is online now for the auction being held at Riverside on Tuesday October 26.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

In the last race of the day at Caulfield, Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) looked as if she was going to be the unluckiest runner of the day before getting out late to swamp her rivals.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Bella Nipotina is enjoying a stellar spring so far, with today’s victory her second from four starts this campaign, while her other two runs have netted minor placings, both at Stakes level.

The 4YO mare is an $80,000 Premier Yearling Sale buy for Andrew Williams, Lindsay Park and Mount Hallowell Stud, from the Rosemont draft.

She is part-owned by Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbreds, who also bred the mare.

In today’s G2 The Shorts at Randwick, Inglis’ Everest slot runner Gytrash finished a luckless third behind Eduardo and Nature Strip and is on track to peak in the $15m The Everest on October 16.

He will likely trial once between now and then.

At Newcastle on Friday, Inglis graduates dominated the feature races with Madam Legend (I Am Invincible) wining the G3 Tibbie Stakes and Ashman (Magnus) victorious in the G3 Cameron Handicap.

It was a first Stakes success for both gallopers and especially valuable for the well-bred Madam Legend, whose residual value soared thanks to the black type addition to her page.

It’s a fantastic result for her owner Bon Ho, who through Carmel Size purchased Madam Legend for $250,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by her breeders Canning Downs Stud.

The Les Bridge-trained Madam Legend defeated Mirra Vision in the Tibbie, making it another Stakes quinella for Inglis graduates.

The last race on the program was another significant result for the Inglis Digital platform with Ashman leading all the way in the G3 Cameron Handicap.

It was a ninth career win for Kim Waugh’s galloper Ashman but what is even more poignant is the fact that since David Dalton purchased him for just $27,500 in this year’s February (Late) online auction, he has won $140,000 in prizemoney.

The victory assured Ashman a start in the G1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick in a fortnight, with the Cameron winner exempt from ballot for the feature spring mile.