Written by Lydia Symonds
Cover image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Group 3-producing mare Hold Me Closer (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was offered in foal to Darley stallion Brazen Beau, topped the Inglis Digital June (Late) Online Sale after she was purchased by Chris and Jane Barham for $230,000.
Offered by Tarcoola Stud, the dam of Group 3 winner Thought Of That (So You Think {NZ}) and purchase capped off a big day for the Barhams, with the I Am Invincible 2-year-old Airman – which they bred – scoring a dominant win on debut at Randwick-Kensington earlier in the afternoon.
Hold Me Closer sold to Chris and Jane Barham for $230,000 | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
“We and Inglis just seem to go hand in hand!’’ a delighted Chris Barham said.
“Hold Me Closer, Peter O’Brien had her as a yearling who loved her and rated her very highly. He’s obviously someone we respect greatly so we were more than happy to purchase her, largely on his recommendation.
“She’ll go to Segenhoe now and foal down, then we might send her to Zoustar later in the year but we’ll make that decision in a little while.
"She’ll (Hold Me Closer) go to Segenhoe now and foal down, then we might send her to Zoustar later in the year but we’ll make that decision in a little while." - Chris Barham
“She’s our first online purchase and we’ve been on tenterhooks all day trying to secure her but we’ve really enjoyed it. We’ve been giggling all day about it to be honest, it’s been fun.’’
Tarcoola’s Ken Williams added: “I bred her, sold her as a yearling, bought her back after her racing days to breed with her and now sold her again, so it’s been quite the journey.
“We’ve sold with Inglis Digital before but not at this level. We were going to sell this mare at The Chairman’s Sale but decided against it and I think she’s made as much tonight (Wednesday) as she would have at Chairman’s, yet we’ve saved on costs in terms of transport and staff at sales, etc.’’
Ashgrove was purchased by Zoe Daly for $200,000 | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Ashgrove (Dundeel {NZ}), a one-time winner, who was last seen running fifth G3 Gunsynd Classic for trainer Tony Gollan, was purchased by Zoe Daly for $200,000 during the sale, meanwhile, unplaced mare Speedy Kitty (Exceed And Excel) was snapped up by Kia Ora Bloodstock for the same figure.
Offered by Gollan, Ashgrove finished third behind Character (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Queensland Guineas in April, while he also finished fifth in the Listed Daybreak Lover Plate and he will line up for Gollan in the G3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast this weekend.
The son of Arrowfield Stud-based sire Dundeel (NZ) is out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Affinee making her a half-sister to Listed winner Foxy Housewife (Foxwedge) and Danica (Sebring) - the dam of R. Listed The Enzo (Stratum).
“It was really a win for everybody – the majority owner wanted to test the market and was happy with the price, we were happy to be able to retain him and other stable clients are happy to be able to get involved in a horse as good as him,’’ Gollan said.
“The $200,000 was our last bid, we knew there was interest from Singapore and other places so we almost lost him but it’s great to have been able to retain the horse in the stable and hopefully he can repay his new and existing owners with an immediate dividend on Saturday.’’
Speedy Kitty, who was offered in foal to Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (Ire), and she is out of US Grade 3 winner Ashley's Kitty (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).
Speedy Kitty in foal to Swettenham Stud's Toronado (Ire) (pictured) was purchased by Sullivan Bloodstock for $200,000 | Standing at Swettenham Stud
Ashley’s Kitty herself is a half-sister to Grade 1 scorer Cupid (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and dual Grade 3 winner Heart Ashley (USA) (Lion Heart {USA}), who is the dam of dual Japanese Grade 3 winner Fiano Romano (Fastnet Rock).
Speedy Kitty’s pedigree received a boost on Wednesday when her half-brother Cool Kaap (American Pharoah {USA}) made a winning debut for trainer Chris Waller at Eagle Farm.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel was bred by Kia Ora Stud and they sold her to John Warren, Highclere and Lindsay Park for $380,000 at the 2017 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and Kia Ora’s Shane Wright said the mare was likely to visit the farm’s new recruit Captivant.
“It’s a Kia Ora family and a family we think has an extremely bright future,” he said. “We bred her and sold her as a yearling so it’s great to get her back to the farm. She’ll foal down to Toronado, who is going unbelievably well, and then she’s likely to visit Captivant.’’
The June (Late) Sale grossed $6,428,750, taking the 2021/22 financial year aggregate to $93,177,349, ensuring a 91 per cent market share in the Australian equine digital sales market.
It’s a 32 per cent increase from the 2020/21 financial year, which saw turnover reach $70,396,262.
“It’s been a fabulous 12 months, astonishing really when you consider we’ve sold Funstar for a world record online price of $2.7 million as well as other outstanding results like Every Rose ($1.3 million), Joyous Legend ($1.025 million), Fasika ($920,000), Archanna ($900,000), Members Joy ($800,000), there’s been some wonderful highlights,’’ Inglis Digital’s Business Manager Nick Melmeth said.
“Individual results aside, we’ve also set a world record for an online sale at $10,816,499 earlier this year, the team has worked really hard to ensure that Inglis Digital provides the highest standards of service to the market across the board.
“A huge amount of work has been done by a lot of people to get the platform to the point where it commands the respect of the market, so to have it where it is now, that so many major domestic and international participants are enjoying its benefits, is very satisfying.
“It’s been a rewarding 12 months for the vendors but also an extremely successful period for the buyers – Inglis Digital graduates have won one in seven Australian races this season so buyers know that when they purchase off the platform, they’re giving themselves a strong chance of enjoying success.’’
