News

Inglis Digital surge continues as August (Early) sale grosses more than $5m

10th Aug 2022

Another extraordinarily strong Inglis Digital sale tonight concluded with the top of the market again showing stunning resilience.

At the completion of the August (Early) auction $5,095,600 had been grossed, with 12 lots realising $100,000 or more and seven selling for $200,000 or more.

The top lot was a breeding right in Champion Sire I Am Invincible which sold to Three Bridges Thoroughbreds – on behalf of their client Pete Murray – for $520,000.

“Pete is always looking to strengthen his product and you can’t strengthen any breeding set-up much more than getting a breeding right to the Champion Sire,’’ Three Bridges’ Toby Liston said.

“Vinnie is great to be involved with and when he no doubt goes to private in years to come, Pete will have access to him.

“We figured he’d cost double service fee and as it turned out, it was double service fee plus some but we were adamant we wanted it.

“We love Inglis Digital, always have, Nick [Melmeth] and Steph [Carrruthers] do an unbelievable job, it’s great to be a part of it again and get our hands on some of the best lots in the catalogue. Every time the catalogue comes out every fortnight we’re straight online!’’

The second-top lot was Savabeel mare Duchess Kate, offered in foal to Golden Slipper winner Farnan.

Presented by Kitchwin Hills on behalf of her owner Max Whitby, Duchess Kate sold to John Wheeler for $455,000.

Wheeler also purchased the regally bred mare Avila (Written Tycoon x Makybe Diva) for $125,000 and Fastnet Rock mare Vinay (IF to Wootton Bassett) for $250,000 in the August (Early) sale.

All three will this season visit exciting young stallion Russian Camelot, of which Wheeler is the largest shareholder.

“I’m actively out there looking for and buying mares for Russian Camelot, I’ll keep looking and as the right ones become available and while I don’t run out of money, I’ll pick them up as I go,’’ Wheeler said.

“These Savabeel mares are very good and at the end of the day I’m hopeful Duchess Kate will measure up; she certainly does on all the breeding indicators.

“I thought $400,000 was where I’d need to go to get her but clearly there was somebody else, or some people else, who were keen on her as well and that’s what happens, when two people want the same thing, you’ve got to pay more than you want.’’

Kitchwin’s Mick Malone added: “I’m so happy, really happy with that. I mean I’m sad to see her go but so happy with the price.

“It’s the right time to sell her. She’s already the dam of the highest-priced First Season Sire yearling in The Autumn Sun at $950,000 and she’s absolutely the type who could achieve that again with Farnan when this foal hits the sale ring.’’

Three mares shared third-top lot billings today – the broodmare Zebreez (IF Zoustar) as well as racing and breeding prospects Surecan (Not A Single Doubt) and Charleise (Foxwedge).

Each sold for $300,000.

Charleise - purchased by Indie Investments - was offered by Chris and Jane Barham, who shared their success with a group of tradespeople who were working on their house extension when Charleise’s future was being finalised.

“We had 60 or 70 tradies here and there were about 14 of them who followed racing closely and at the time were following Merchant Navy’s career, all the way through to Royal Ascot, so we let them into Charleise with us and they’ve had the ride of their lives,’’ Chris Barham said.

“She won $400,000 on the track and now she’s sold for $300,000, they got to meet great people, got a great insight into the industry, got to big racecourses and won Stakes races all with their first horse, so it’s been great fun.

“And then with the sale today, Inglis were enormous with the promotion of the mare and the owners saw it all and felt really involved and special, so it’s just been a great journey all round.’’

Tim Wilson, whose First Light Racing offered Surecan, described the result as “absolutely terrific’’.

“It was great to see her make that price, I thought it was unlikely if I’m being honest but the Inglis team has done it again,’’ Wilson said.

“We’re thrilled with the result, the owners are over the moon, they’ve enjoyed this whole process and it’s a fantastic result for everyone.’’

Zebreez was offered by Widden Stud – on behalf of clients Scott Gibson and Murray Murdoch – and was purchased by Trilogy Racing, who also took home the aforementioned Surecan.

“The ease and trust of the system is fantastic with Inglis Digital, these astute buyers can go out of their way to source quality stock regularly that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to,’’ Widden’s Matt Comerford said.

“$300,000 for Zebreez is another great result. Vendors know they can sell with Inglis Digital and realise top prices, which is why we’re always using the platform.’’

The next Inglis Digital Online Auction is the ‘August Boutique Sale’ featuring three Australian Bloodstock mares Wandabaa, Enchanted Heart and Lunakorn.

To view our feature video on the mares, CLICK HERE.

The sale will be live from 9am Tuesday (August 16) and close for bidding at 4pm the following afternoon (Wednesday August 17).

To arrange an inspection of any of the mares, contact Sebastian Hutch on 0423 770 854.