Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Inglis Digital hosted the conclusion of its November (Late) Online Sale on Wednesday, and the stakes-performed Snitzel colt Basquiat realised $290,000.
The beautifully bred 3-year-old, who is from the Listed winner Bonny O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), was consigned to the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Tom Magnier went to $1.9 million.
Basquiat, as a yearling, sold to Tom Magnier for $1.9 million | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
In 10 starts for Chris Waller, Basquiat notched one win (a Doomben maiden) and four placings. He was third behind Kibou (Maurice {Jpn}) in this year’s G3 Up And Coming S. and then third in the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality, which was won by subsequent Group 1 victor Golden Mile (Astern).
Basquiat was purchased by Bevan Smith Bloodstock on behalf of Singapore-based trainer Michael Clements, who will train Basquiat when he arrives in Asia early next year.
Earlier this week, the Singapore Turf Club announced it has revamped its calendar of fixtures for April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, with 20 feature races to be conducted in the jurisdiction, 10 more than the current racing season, and of those 10 additions, nine are feature races reappearing after their discontinuation in 2021 owing to COVID.
Bevan Smith (pictured) purchased Basquiat on behalf of Singapore-based trainer Michael Clements | Image courtesy of Bevan Smith Bloodstock
The calendar means 48 race meetings for the Singapore season, 37 of which will be Saturday meetings and 11 on Sunday. The program was developed in close consultation with local trainers and the wider racing community.
“The announcement up there this week has instantly given more confidence to the Singapore market and bringing back those better Stakes races has already fielded more interest up there and I have no doubt that will continue to increase at coming sales,” Smith said.
“Basquiat is a really nice horse, already a proven stakes horse down here in Australia and he’s got the runs on the board so you would expect he’d be a horse that would be more than competitive up in Singapore.
“Basquiat is a really nice horse, already a proven stakes horse down here in Australia and he’s got the runs on the board so you would expect he’d be a horse that would be more than competitive up in Singapore.” - Bevan Smith
“He’s been well educated and being a 3-year-old, there’s a nice 3-year-old series in the middle of the year there in June/July with some really good sprint races, so they’ll be an obvious target at this stage.
“The $290,000 was the absolute top end of our valuation for him, I didn’t have too many, if any, bids left in me but he’s a class horse who is well bred, very good-looking and who made a lot of money as a yearling so we knew we’d have to get to that upper end of the valuation to secure him.”
Basquiat was one of two colts offered by Coolmore Australia, with the other being Cool Kaap (American Pharoah {USA}), who was bought by Lindsay Gough Racing for $135,000.
Also trained by Waller, 3-year-old Cool Kaap has been to the races five times, with his lone win coming at Eagle Farm in June when on debut. He also has one second to his credit and contested a Listed race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Cool Kaap was purchased for $135,000 by Lindsay Gough Racing | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Cool Kaap was bought by Magnier for $320,000 from the Kia Ora Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is out of Grade 3 winner Ashley’s Kitty (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), who is a three-quarter sister to the stakes-winning mare Heart Ashley (USA) (Lion Heart {USA}).
Coolmore’s Racing Manager Charlie Spicer-Jenkins said: “We have sold a number of horses through the Inglis Digital platform and once again we are grateful for the time and effort their team has put in to promoting these talented horses.
“We had confidence in what we were offering to the market and while they don’t suit our business model, we are sure that both Basquiat and Cool Kaap will be successful for their new connections.”
“We had confidence in what we were offering to the market and while they don’t suit our business model, we are sure that both Basquiat and Cool Kaap will be successful for their new connections.” - Charlie Spicer-Jenkins
“Inglis Digital is a perfect way to showcase quality bloodstock to a diverse buying bench. We wish all the new owners the very best of luck with them and thank Chris Waller and his staff for their efforts in getting them to this point.”
Morgan raids Godolphin draft
Godolphin offered 19 racehorses unreserved in the auction including four-time winner and Group 2 placegetter Criaderas (Lonhro), who sold to Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan for $155,000.
Criaderas was purchased for $155,000 by Cody Morgan | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
The 6-year-old ran second in the G3 Summer Cup at Randwick in December and at his most recent outing, was third, beaten just 0.86l, in a BM88 at Newcastle’s Metropolitan meeting on November 12.
“Races like the Tamworth Cup and Gunnedah Cup early next year stand out already as possible ways for him to get into The Big Dance but we’ll sit down in the next little while and work out a plan,’’ Morgan said.
“To be honest, I feel incredibly privileged to be able to buy a horse like him. I only said to my fiancée just then, four or five years ago I’d spend $80,000 on a horse and not be able to sleep as a result but today I spent $230,000 so I’m very lucky for the support.
“To be honest, I feel incredibly privileged to be able to buy a horse like him (Criaderas)... four or five years ago I’d spend $80,000 on a horse and not be able to sleep as a result but today I spent $230,000 so I’m very lucky for the support.’’ - Cody Morgan
“But it all revolves around the prizemoney. No way in the world would we be spending this sort of money like this if the prizemoney wasn’t there from Racing NSW.’’
Criaderas was one of two horses Morgan purchased from the Godolphin draft, also securing Frosted (USA) 3-year-old Exonumia for $75,000.
Also from the Godolphin draft was Pammukale, who Bulla Thoroughbreds paid $125,000 for.
The Impending 3-year-old, who is a half-brother to Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Pierro, is yet to notch a win from five starts.
Pammukale was purchased for $125,000 by Bulla Thoroughbreds | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Another well-related member of the Godolphin draft was Dartboard (Shooting To Win), who is a half-brother to seven-time Group 1-winning superstar Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}).
Dartboard, who ran second at Geelong on debut, was sold to Alice Springs trainer Russell Bell for $32,500.
Godolphin’s draft grossed $778,500, pleasing Godolphin Australia’s Racing and Bloodstock Manager Jason Walsh, who said: “To have three six-figure lots, we were very pleased with the results overall. There were certainly a few individuals among the draft that definitely exceeded our expectations which was fantastic.
“To have three six-figure lots, we were very pleased with the results overall. There were certainly a few individuals among the (Godolphin) draft that definitely exceeded our expectations which was fantastic.” - Jason Walsh
“We’d like to thank the purchasers and underbidders for their continued support and to those lucky enough to take one or more of the horses home with them, we wish them all the best moving forward with them.”
By the numbers
Overall, the November (Late) Online Sale grossed $3,395,950, with nine horses realising $100,000 or more.
So far this season, Inglis Digital graduates have won 1139 Australian races for $17,681,030 in prizemoney, including four stakes races in the past three weeks – She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) (G1 VRC Oaks), Massimo (Sessions) (G2 Lee Steere S.), Holyfield (I Am Invincible) (Listed Keith Noud H.) and Minsk Moment (I Am Invincible) (Listed WA Carbine Club S.).
Entries for the final sale of 2022, the December Online Sale, are open until midnight on Wednesday, December 7. The Inglis Digital December Sale will run from December 9-14.
