Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
After a hugely successful 2023, the first online auction of 2024 for the Inglis Digital platform upheld the trend with a varied catalogue of racing and breeding prospects on offer.
Topping the Inglis Digital January (Late) Online Sale was Lot 412 - Slumber Party (Snitzel) for $255,000. On account of Go Bloodstock, the mare was offered in foal to Coolmore Stud’s sire sensation Justify (USA) and will head to Durham Park.
Slumber Party was purchased for $620,000 from the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Gai Waterhouse Racing and Jon Kelly. On the track, she won once and was placed in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. and the Listed Gimcrack S.
The daughter of Snitzel was then sold for $800,000 to Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Sir Owen Glenn at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. All three of Slumber Party’s foals to race have been race winners, including the $775,000 yearling Critique (Written Tycoon).
Lot 412 - Slumber Party | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Following Slumber Party was the high-class West Australian-trained mare Ihts Closing Inn (Session), offered by Oakland Park Stud and sold to Ferras Bloodstock for $215,000.
The 4-year-old mare has won eight races for Adam Durrant, including the Listed Belmont Oaks and the Listed Belmont Classic. Ihts Closing Inn hails from a prominent black-type family, she is a daughter of the Group 3-placed mare Ihtsatune (Ihtiram {Ire}).
Ihtsatune is a full sister to the G1 Kingston Town Classic victor Ihtsahymn, who retired as a winner of 12 races. Ihts Closing Inn is a half-sister to the Saint Tropez (Not A Single Doubt), a placegetter in the G3 Chairman’s S.
Lot 292 - Ihts Closing Inn | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Furthermore, this is the family of the Listed Gimcrack S. winner Jestatune (Rory’s Jester), the G3 Vain S. victor Jukebox and Bruckner, who won the G3 HDF McNeil S. and was placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Rounding out the top three purchases was the Annabel Neasham-trained Military Expert (Redoute’s Choice). The 5-year-old gelding was offered on TFI's behalf and sold to Flying Start Syndications for $140,000.
Military Expert was a $1.1 million yearling purchase from the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and then reoffered through the 2022 Magic Millions June Online Sale, where Annabel Neasham Racing secured him for $640,000.
The gelding has been a classy galloper, winning four races and placing in the G1 Toorak H., the G3 Ming Dynasty H., the G3 Sandown S. and two other stakes races from 22 starts.
Lot 6 - Military Expert | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Other notable results include Wasted Youth, a daughter of I Am Invincible, who sold for $90,000 to D Dick. The 3-year-old filly has won once from three starts and is a daughter of the Redoute’s Choice mare Long Time Ago.
Long Time Ago won the G3 Summoned S. and is a daughter of the G1 Australian Oaks victress Once Were Wild (Johannesburg {USA}).
No sale for Casino
The last-start G2 Perth Cup victor Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) failed to meet his reserve of $200,000, as did the Lauda Sion (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}).
Yulong offered the Japanese Group 1 winner and started once in Australia for an unplaced effort. Lauda Sion was passed in short of his $200,000 reserve.
Four-hundred and fifty-five lots were offered with 360 selling (81.26 per cent) for a gross of $3,653,502, an average of $10,149, and a median of $4250. Eighty-three lots passed in (18.74 per cent), while 12 were withdrawn (2.6 per cent).
