News

Mare in foal to Justify tops January Online Sale at $255,000

24th Jan 2024

Durham Park’s Bruce Edward is hoping his first ever thoroughbred purchase in today’s Inglis Digital January Online Sale is the beginning of a long and fruitful journey.

Edward secured the sale topper Slumber Party (Snitzel) – in foal to global sire sensation Justify – for $255,000.

While long associated with horses, Edwards has been a “keen breeder’’ of standardbreds for many years but decided he wanted to try his luck with the thoroughbred.

“Why? I have a few friends involved who really enjoy it and I’m basically a breeder anyway, just not with thoroughbreds until now, I’ve never really been interested in buying yearlings so I thought buying some mares might be the best way in,’’ Edward said.

“We’ll foal the youngster down on the farm later this year and decide after that whether I retain it or sell it as a yearling but the plan is to buy a few more mares now too.

“I’ve been looking at these Inglis online sales for maybe the past six months but each time I’ve tried to buy one I’ve been blown out of the water, they can get quite expensive the nice mares, so while today was expensive I was really excited to win the final bid.

“This whole journey will be a learning experience but it’s been a great start, the Inglis Digital website is absolutely sensational, so easy, so efficient, so quick, it was great.’’

Slumber Party was offered by Go Bloodstock, who were delighted with the result.

“We’re really happy,’’ Go Bloodstock’s Steve O’Connor said.

“We put a high reserve on her because she’s a nice mare but we thought it was a good opportunity to sell on the back of the Justify stock being so popular and the fact [Justify colt] Storm Boy is doing the job on the track, basically being the best 2YO in Australia at the moment.

“That’s the beauty of Inglis Digital, you can take advantage of racecourse results like Storm Boy, you can sell these types of mares at such short notice, the platform is so good for that.’’

Today’s second-top lot was the Oakland Park Stud-offered Perth mare Ihts Closing Inn (Sessions), which sold to Ferras Bloodstock for $215,000.

She became the 168th lot to realise $200,000 or more on Inglis Digital since its inception.

The third-top lot in the January Online Sale was G1 performer Military Expert (Redoute’s Choice).

Offered by TFI, the 5YO – who finished 3^rd in the G1 Toorak Handicap – sold to Cameron Bennett’s Flying Start Syndications for $140,000.

“Again we have achieved a most pleasing result with a gelding on Inglis Digital,’’ TFI’s Sally Williams said.

“Military Expert generated a lot of interest from prospective buyers, as a horse with his record warranted.

“Inglis Digital continues to be the most efficient and lucrative way for us to move on these high quality racehorses that no longer fit our business model but still have plenty of upside for buyers.

“We wish Cam Bennett and the horse’s new owners much success and we hope to see him go on and give them lots of fun on the track in the future.’’

Bennett confirmed Annabel Neasham would remain Military Expert’s trainer moving forward.

“Annabel was really keen to get the horse back and she knows him better than anyone so it was a no-brainer to give her the horse back to train,’’ Bennett said.

“We think he’s comfortably a Saturday metro horse in Sydney or Melbourne and then a Listed or lower Group horse so while the $140,000 was beyond what I thought I’d have to pay for him, I’m also confident we’ll get that back and more with a couple of early wins.

“He’s still in the paddock spelling in Queensland and will remain so for another few weeks but races like the [Listed] Glasshouse and [Listed] Eye Liner Stakes at the back end of the Queensland winter are ones we think would be ideal for him.

“I love Inglis Digital, I sell on there most sales and buy on there regularly as well, it’s just easy, user friendly, if you do your homework there’s always good buying to be had.’’

Other highlight results included last start winner Wasted Youth selling for $90,000 after a protracted bidding duel, while Malaysian buyers made their presence felt, purchasing three lots in the name of Selangor Turf Club.

In total, the January Online Sale grossed $3,653,502.

Entries are now open for the February (Early) Sale and will remain so until midnight next Wednesday, January 31.

The sale will run from February 2-7.

To enter a lot CLICK HERE.