News

Superb December Sale caps record year for Inglis Digital

14th Dec 2022

The most successful year in Inglis Digital’s history came to a stunning end tonight with the December Online Sale - the final online auction of 2022 - grossing a spectacular $4,672,200.

In another robust auction that saw buyers from multiple continents secure stock, seven lots sold for $100,000 or more, taking the tally of six-figure lots in this calendar year to 145.

In 2017 – when the platform was born – that figure was zero.

In total, 5828 lots have sold through Inglis Digital in 2022.

Inglis Digital’s Business Manager Nick Melmeth was grateful for the support the platform has received throughout 2022.

“It’s been quite extraordinary really, to see the amount of vendors that are entering quality stock every single sale and the unbelievable growth we’ve seen in our buyer bench month after month,’’ Melmeth said.

“When you’ve got a platform that is providing the winners of one in every five races in Australia this season, it’s no surprise to see the exponential growth.

“I remember clearly our first Inglis Digital Sale back in May 2017 when we sold 72 horses at a 29% clearance rate with a top lot of $42,500 and a gross of around $285,000.

“Fast forward to now and we’re regularly grossing more than $2m per sale and that’s down to the quality of entries we receive each and every sale from our vendors, which in turn brings buyers to the platform because they know they are getting a premium online product and experience with Inglis Digital.

“Each year seems to get better and better and we can’t wait to see what 2023 holds.’’

Top lot honours in the December Online Sale were shared by Stakes performed 3YO Great Barrier Reef and quality broodmare Set Goals, offered IF to exciting young stallion Maurice.

Both horses sold for $250,000.

Offered by Coolmore, in conjunction with Chris Waller, Great Barrier Reef (I Am Invincible) sold to Ennovate, and Waller will remain the 3YO's trainer.

“We are once again grateful to the team at Inglis Digital for all of their efforts involved in selling Great Barrier Reef; the platform continues to prove a highly reliable way to access a diverse pool of buyers with quality horses that no longer fit our business model,’’ Coolmore’s Racing Manager Charlie Spicer-Jenkins said.

“Furthermore, we would like to thank the underbidders for their interest and support and wish the purchaser the very best going forward with their new colt.’’

Offered by Cannon Hayes Stud, Set Goals sold to Yulong.

Set Goals will foal down her Maurice foal next year before visiting one of Yulong’s stallions Written Tycoon or Tagaloa.

“She has a Written Tycoon filly on the ground which is a beautiful type so we know she produces the right type on that cross so whether she goes back to Written [Tycoon] or we send her to Tagaloa, who we already think she would be a perfect match for, we’ll decide next year,’’ Yulong’s Sam Fairgray said.

“The family just keeps getting stronger so she was never going to go cheaply but as I’ve said before, you just need to be prepared to pay the premium prices for these quality mares, especially in foal to a stallion as popular as Maurice.’’

Cannon Hayes’ Dave Morrissey added: “We’re very happy, we’ve done very well through Inglis Digital the past couple of months, selling Vinay in August for $250,000 as well so we couldn’t be happier.

“We just thought it was the right time to sell, she had the right cover to Maurice, we had plenty of calls and enquiries about her in the lead-up which is all you can ask for as a seller.’’

The third-top lot today was Strangeless, a Pierro filly offered as part of The Late Alan Cardy Dispersal Sale which sold to Mick Price Racing and Breeding for $235,000.

Strangeless was one of 15 horses offered in the dispersal, which grossed $698,500.

Speaking on behalf of the Cardy family, Kurt Goldman – who trained for the Late Wallabies star Cardy – had mixed emotions on sale day.

“It’s sad that it’s all now come to an end but we’re really happy with the results overall, some of the fillies especially made exceptional money,’’ Goldman said.

“It was ridiculously busy in the lead-up, my phone legitimately didn’t stop ringing for five days with people enquiring about different lots, I don’t think a single person in the industry was unaware the sale was on, that’s for sure.’’

Mick Price added: “I watched her first start and thought ‘wow, this is a Group filly coming along’ and when she was put up for sale, we were adamant we wanted her.

“I like Pierro, I like the pedigree, the type of horse she is, I spoke to Kurt and did a vet history and was happy with what I saw.

“I’m one of Inglis Digital’s greatest clients, we live on the internet these days and this concept is here to stay so we’ve embraced it and I’m glad we have.’’

There were multiple dispersals in the December Online Sale.

Hudson Conway offered five horses which all sold for a combined $287,000, headed by Degraves ($90,000) and Verimli ($85,000) while a Hesket Bloodstock dispersal grossed $602,000 with a top lot of $170,000.

The next Inglis Digital Online Auction is the January (Early) Sale, which will run from January 6-11 next year.

Entries for that sale are now open and will remain so until midnight on Wednesday January 4.

To enter CLICK HERE.