By Bren O'Brien
Richard Pegum has secured a 25 per cent share in leading Caulfield and Melbourne Cups hope Mustajeer (GB) (Medicean {GB}), paying $320,000 through the Inglis Digital Online Sale platform.
The quarter share in the last start Ebor H. winner was offered by Gaelic Bloodstock and the online auction went for two days before Pegum placed the winning bid on the 7-year-old.
“To purchase an in-form horse for a big race this close to the race, it’s very exciting,’’ Pegum said. “I’ve been able to buy many horses before but this is one of the most well credentialled imports I’ve ever bought."
Gaelic Bloodstock's Phil Burns was also rapt with the outcome of the auction.
“Thanks to Inglis for getting the job done. The initiative, opportunity and professionalism involved in the entire process has been outstanding," he said.
“It’s been a seamless process as a vendor and we’re absolutely delighted with the result."
“It’s been a seamless process as a vendor and we’re absolutely delighted with the result." - Phil Burns
“I'd like to wish the new owner all the best in this new investment. Mustajeer has provided us with so many amazing memories and I sincerely hope he can come out and win the two big Cups in Australia in coming weeks so they can enjoy the thrills we have enjoyed with him.’’
Mustajeer, who was bred and initially raced by Shadwell, won one of his first seven starts before being purchased for £50,000 by Gaelic Bloodstock at the 2017 Tatts July Sale after which he transferred to Irish trainer Ger Lyons.
Having won easily at Naas on debut for his new connections, he then proved competitive in stakes company before running fourth in last year's Ebor H. and then broke his black-type duck with a 6.5l win in the Listed Finale S., at Naas.
He showed his continued improvement when he split leading European stayers Master Of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Vintage Crop S. in April before running third in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in May.
Australian Bloodstock negotiated to buy a significant share in him after he finished fifth in the G2 Curragh Cup in June, while Gaelic Bloodstock remained involved.
He then returned to York in August, where he proved the superior stayer in winning the £1 million Ebor, defeating Red Galileo (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Now trained by Kris Lees, Mustajeer holds entries for the two major spring handicaps in Melbourne, including the G1 Caulfield Cup in ten days' time, a race which is currently rated $13 to win.
Manaya recently sold through the Inglis online platform for $400,000
He joins a number of high-profile sales through the Inglis online platform in recent months including Manaya (Hinchinbrook) for $400,000 and Set Goals (Snitzel) for $321,000.
Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth was thrilled with the outcome of the Mustajeer auction.
“This was new territory for thoroughbred sales in this part of the world, to be selling a quarter share in a genuine Caulfield and Melbourne Cups contender, in early October, online," Melmeth said.
“The sale received significant international media coverage and I think that alerted a lot of people to it and as a result, there was widespread interest in the auction.
“Congratulations to Richard on the purchase and thank you to Phil Burns for entrusting Inglis Digital with the sale. We wish Richard and the existing connections all the best with Mustajeer in the Caulfield Cup and beyond."
