Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of Inglis
Promising The Autumn Sun gelding Kosgei set a new Australasian record for a colt/gelding in a digital sale when realising $750,000 to the bid of Mr Daniel Yeung/Magus Equine in the Inglis Digital December Online Sale, which closed on Wednesday.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trainee was the star attraction of the sale, having run an eye-catching fourth at his most recent start in the G1 Victoria Derby at Flemington in November. That performance followed his maiden win at Bendigo in August on debut.
Offered for sale having been fully vetted in line with Hong Kong Jockey Club protocols, Kosgei had a profile to appeal to Hong Kong-based buyers, with a Timeform rating of 108 from just five starts to date.
“I met with (Inglis Hong Kong Representatives) James Price and Alan Ho in Hong Kong in the days after the International Races and they advised me of the upcoming sale of Kosgei,” said Magnus Equine's Willie Leung.
Gallery: Kosgei sets a new Australasian digital-sale record for a colt/gelding when realising $750,000
“They provided me with a comprehensive prospectus document on the horse which was very helpful and informative for me and my client.
“Mr Yeung and his trainer Michael Chang have enjoyed good success together recently and Mr Yeung was keen to support Michael with a nice young horse.
“Kosgei is obviously a top-class racehorse with a lovely pedigree and being a son of The Autumn Sun, he looks to have a nice profile to develop into a Hong Kong Derby prospect as a 4-year-old.
“Kosgei is obviously a top-class racehorse with a lovely pedigree and being a son of The Autumn Sun, he looks to have a nice profile to develop into a Hong Kong Derby prospect as a 4-year-old.” - Daniel Yeung
“He will travel to Hong Kong in the next shipment and be given some time to acclimatise before starting his race career there.”
Group 3-winning mare fetches $275,000
This year’s G3 Pam O’Neill S. victress Frumos (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) made $275,000, with The Racing League buying the 6-year-old mare.
Bred in America by Kenneth L. Ramsey Et Al, Frumos was a €220,000 (AU$356,400) purchase for David Simcock Racing from the Grove Stud draft at the 2020 Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale.
The mare has raced in Australia by Orbis Bloodstock, with Chris Waller her trainer.
From 17 starts, Frumos has notched five wins and one second-place.
Lot 292 - Frumos, made $275,000 at the Inglis Digital December Online Sale, with The Racing League buying | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Steve Brown, CEO of The Racing League, told The Thoroughbred Report they believe Frumos is still capable of winning another good black-type race, possibly in top company, but her residual value means there is a nice safety valve there should she not.
“We’ve got a really good form student who is part of the team, he’s very critical, very hard to please. He was banging the table about this mare. He thinks we can enjoy a nice winter campaign with her, and she could end up in a race like the (G1) Tatt’s Tiara in Brisbane,” Brown said.
“We’ve got a really good form student who is part of the team, he’s very critical, very hard to please. He was banging the table about this mare. (Frumos).” - Steve Brown
“His view is that the sectionals she’s been able to run have been exceptional and of a standard that could see a huge upside if everything goes right. If it doesn’t, she’s a Group 3 winner with intrinsic value anyway.”
Steve Brown, CEO of The Racing League | Image courtesy of Kitchwin Hills
A two-time Group 1 scorer himself, Kitten’s Joy (USA) has produced 16 elite-level winners and has 256 stakes wins on his CV.
Frumos is out of the winning Chester House (USA) mare Desertstormelite (USA) and is closely related to the stakes winners Enduring Will (USA) (Arch {USA}), Cozy Kitten (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) and Sisterhood (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}).
Meanwhile, a two per cent share in the dual Group 1 hero Mo’unga (NZ), who is set to stand at Newhaven Park in 2024, was passed in.
Kitten's Joy (USA) | Image courtesy of Hill 'n' Dale Stud
Elsewhere, In My Feelings (Manhattan Rain) and a Stay Inside filly at foot sold to Deere Bloodstock for $220,000. The 5-year-old mare was consigned by Ciaron Maher Racing.
A Grafton maiden winner, In My Feelings is out of the stakes-winning mare, Personal Ensign (Rubiton), herself a proven stakes producer, being the dam of the Group 2 victress Fontiton (Turffontein) and the Group 3 winner Sartorial Splendor (Brazen Beau).
Trust (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who was consigned as Lot 504 on behalf of her owners, in foal to Kingman (GB), was bought by Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $155,000.
Lot 504 - Trust, in foal to Kingman (GB) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The unraced mare is a half-sister to the Listed victress Deemster (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the stakes performer Buthela (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}).
And Velours Blue (Nicconi), who was consigned by her owners as Lot 507, realised $155,000, with Coolarest Farm buying. She is in foal to Newgate Farm’s Golden Slipper-winning stallion Stay Inside.
The two-time winner is a half-sister to this year’s G3 ATC Carbine Club S. victor The Fortune Teller (Caravaggio {USA}).
