Written by Bren O'Brien
Stakes-placed 3-year-old gelding Osamu (Exceed And Excel) has topped the Inglis March (Early) Online Sale, and is set to remain with Annabel Neasham, after selling for $340,000.
He has had two runs for Neasham, including a second at Randwick back in January, and obviously made some impression, with Neasham and her Bloodstock Manager Brian McGuire paying $340,000 to buy him outright, the highest price ever for a racehorse colt or gelding on the Digital platform and the third highest-priced lot ever.
Osamu, a former $1.7 million yearling, who has been runner-up in five of his 11 career starts, including the G2 Skyline S., and the Listed Gothic S. when trained by Chris Waller, was offered by his owners Aquis.
Osamu as a yearling
Neasham said Osamu was a horse she didn’t want to lose from her stable.
“It’s obviously part of Aquis’ policy that the geldings don’t fit their business criteria so I knew for a few weeks he was going to be offered on Inglis Digital as part of their racehorse reduction," she said.
“That gave me some time to put together a group of existing clients to purchase him. I probably paid a bit more than I thought I’d have to but the market is so unbelievably strong and I’m just delighted to have secured him.”
“I probably paid a bit more than I thought I’d have to but the market is so unbelievably strong and I’m just delighted to have secured him.” - Annabel Neasham
“Osamu has got to be one of the best maidens in the country. He’s got good form around some serious Group horses," she said.
“He works like a superstar at home and while he hasn’t quite been able to deliver on raceday, I thought his first-up run was exceptional off one trial and admittedly we maybe went a bit soon with him in the Inglis Sprint.
“So the plan now is to win a maiden with him to build his confidence and then target the Brisbane Winter Carnival.”
Bred by Tyreel Stud, he is out of Group 3 winner Written Dash (Written Tycoon) and was initially purchased for $1.7 million by Aquis at the 2019 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Neasham purchased former Aquis galloper Ruddock (Written Tycoon) for $47,500 in the November (Early) Online Sale and he won first-up for new connections at Canterbury last month.
Neasham was also the winning bidder on Maui Girl (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who was last seen when fourth in the G3 Newcastle Newmarket for trainer Jason Coyle. The 5-year-old mare, offered by her owners, sold for $240,000.
A winner of three of her 18 starts, she is a mare who should hold significant residual value, being out of Listed-winning and Group 1-placed mare Run For Naara (More Than Ready {USA}), who is from an American family with a wealth of black type.
She initially started her career with Tony McEvoy, winning her maiden at Morphettville and finishing fourth in a Listed Hill Smith S., before transferring to Coyle where she won her first two starts at her new stable. While she hasn't won since May last year, she has proven very consistent in that time.
Maui Girl
Three-year-old gelding Vital Verse (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), who placed twice in five starts in the Aquis colours for Neasham, also found a new home, and is headed to the Dubbo stables of Kody Nestor after being sold for $90,000.
The Aquis Farm racehorse reduction – which included five racehorse shares – grossed more than $1.2 million alone.
“It’s been a huge sale and we’re elated by the results,” Aquis Farm CEO, Shane McGrath said.
“It’s been a huge sale and we’re elated by the results.” - Shane McGrath
“While racing geldings is not part of the Aquis policy, these horses are sound, well-bred, good types and readymade racehorses.
“So many Aquis graduates have gone on to successful careers with new owners, like Persan and Ruddock just to name two, the team genuinely wish every buyer all the best with their purchases,” McGrath said.
Also sold for $90,000 was the three-time winning mare Specialism (Safeguard), who will remain in Western Australia after being purchased by Santo Guagliardo's Ridgeport Holdings. She is likely to head to the stables of Neville Parnham.
