News

Why sell online? It's a 'Sure Thing'

28th Oct 2020

For the second time this month, a 3YO filly by I Am Invincible has topped an Inglis Digital online auction, with Surething To Win selling to Peter Robl Racing for $265,000 in the October (Late) catalogue.

Surething To Win is the 75th $100,000+ Inglis Digital result since 2018 and was one of seven horses offered unreserved as part of the Estate of the late Trevor Stuckey, who raced all his horses with the suffix “To Win”.

It followed race filly Avenue of Pleasure who made $205,000 in the October (Early) Online Sale when bought by Gary Lechte.

“I purchased Surething To Win on behalf of a good client who was keen to pick up two fillies from the Trevor Stuckey dispersal,” Peter Robl said.

“I knew the filly from Snowden’s and both her and the other one we purchased – Stunning To Win (Outreach) for $50,000 – have won trials in town as 2YOs earlier in the year.”

Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth was especially pleased with the sale of Surething To Win.

“We have a long-held belief that the Inglis Digital platform offers exceptional opportunities for the sale of unexposed stock, such as trial winners, and the sale of Surething To Win demonstrates that perfectly.

“Hopefully she is lucky for her new connections and sets a precedent for further sales of similar stock because the market, in terms of both domestic and international investors, is certainly there for the right profile of horse.”

Stakes winner Spending To Win was snapped up by Albury trainer Mitch Beer for just $20,000 from the same draft, which grossed $401,750 from six horses sold.

“With Redouble running second in The Kosciusko it’s just given me really good faith in what we’ve developed at Albury over the last 18 months and to striking out with these well performed older geldings that have raced in town their whole career,” Beer said.

“This horse is a prime example, yes he’s a 7YO, but on his day he’s very, very good and for $20,000 some of the sprint features at country cup meetings will be ideal for him.

“In fact we’ll aim this gelding at the Albury Carnival early next year, there’s a $75,000 900m race and a $75,000 race over 1175m on the card, the money is very good in Country NSW and these are the sort of horses you can get out of town and give them a new environment and have plenty of fun with.

“These dispersal horses were in the paddock for a little while, given the mitigating circumstances around the ownership so that gave me confidence and for $20,000 I can have 10 owners that throw in $2000 each for a share and have a horse that can run at our local Carnival or even those sprints down at Moonee Valley on a Friday night – that’s what it’s all about,” Beer said.

The second top lot was Lindsay Park-consigned 3YO colt Albukhturi (Iffraaj) which sold to Perth-based Gangemi Thoroughbreds for $95,000, while recent Warwick Farm winner Royal Marine was bought by Danny Zavitsanos, a successful Harness owner who is still celebrating a Group 1 win with Mach Dan in the 3YO Colts & Geldings Final at Menangle on Saturday night.

“It’s my first ever purchase on Inglis Digital, I haven’t got many racehorses – I’ve only got one currently with trainer Ray Besanko at Cranbourne – but I have 50 to 60 trotters," Zavitsanos said.

“But I’ve been thinking of dabbling in Thoroughbreds again and just happened to see this Digital catalogue on the Inglis website, clicked on it and found Royal Marine who I just really liked.

“To be honest it was a bit spur of the moment, I applied for credit and while I went a little over budget, I trust my instincts because nine times out of 10 they seem to be right!

“I’ll give this horse a bit of a break, he’s only a 4YO and a proven winner so I think he’ll be very competitive on the Victorian circuit.”

Three other race fillies sold for $50,000 or more: G3 placed mare Clarice Cliffs (Canford Cliffs) sold to Gaire Pty Ltd for $70,000, Strawberry Hill-consigned Xylaroo (I Am Invincible) was bought by Lofty Thoroughbred Group for $65,000 and Pierro Rose was a $50,000 buy for John Edward Star.

The October (Late) Sale concluded with a gross of $1.99 million and a 79% clearance.

Entries are open for the November (Early) Online Sale and close at midnight (AEDT) on Wednesday, November 4.