Written by Nathan Exelby
Cover image courtesy of Harness Racing Victoria
Just short of 300 lots were sold at the Inglis Digital March (Early) Online Sale, which concluded on Wednesday, with the $2.5 million gross being headed by two lots that fetched $150,000.
A descendant of the great Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon {Ire}) was the equal highest-priced lot at the Inglis Digital March (early) Online Sale on Wednesday, selling for $150,000 as noted harness racing breeders Durham Park look to expand into the thoroughbred industry.
Durham Park’s Bruce Edward made his very first thoroughbred purchase at the Inglis Digital January Online Sale, when he secured Slumber Party (Snitzel) in foal to Justify (USA) for a sale-topping $255,000.
Slumber Party | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
On Wednesday, the Sebring mare Passionate Lass, offered by Newgate, became thoroughbred purchase number two. She was sold in foal to Brazen Beau with a colt foal at foot by the same stallion as part of a three-in-one package.
“We’re fairly significant breeders in the harness world. We breed about 30 mares a year and we’re fairly busy with that, but I’ve decided to buy a few thoroughbred mares so we will see how we go,” Edward said.
“I wasn’t planning to buy a mare with foal at foot, but I set a limit and ended up right on the limit.
“We’re fairly significant breeders in the harness world. We breed about 30 mares a year and we’re fairly busy with that, but I’ve decided to buy a few thoroughbred mares so we will see how we go.” - Bruce Edward
“We’ve got two (thoroughbred mares) now and I’m pretty happy to have both of them.”
Edward said he is still to determine if he’s going to breed to race, or breed to sell, as he does with the standardbreds.
“If we follow the system with the standardbreds, we will be selling yearlings, but who knows. It’s just an interest I guess,” he said.
Edward hasn’t set a cap on how many thoroughbred mares he intends to buy, but it’s something a number of his friends have been involved in and an interest he’s keen to pursue.
“It’s not a matter of numbers, it’s a matter of quality. If I do anything it will be – not at the very top – but certainly at the better end of the market,” he said.
“It’s not a matter of numbers, it’s a matter of quality. If I do anything it will be – not at the very top – but certainly at the better end of the market.” - Bruce Edward
“Slumber Party was in foal to Justify, which looks like a pretty good move on my behalf!
“I fully admit we have a lot to learn on the breeding side of the thoroughbreds.
“It’s a different ball game, it’s a far more expensive ball game to play in, but at the end of the day, I think the same principals apply.”
Passionate Lass is from the Snitzel mare Tigress Lily, which makes her a sister to multiple Group winner Daisies (Sebring) and a half-sister to recent Listed Carrington S. winner Zou Tiger (Zoustar).
Gallery: Passionate Lass and her weanling colt by Brazen Beau purchased for $150,000 by Durham Park, images courtesy of Inglis Digital
Second dam Empress Lily (Zabeel {NZ}) was placed in the VRC Oaks and she in turn was a daughter of Tycoon Lil, who made a stunning impression on Australian racegoers when she won the 1998 Canterbury Guineas by a big margin, having already been a dual Group 1 winner in New Zealand before arriving in Australia.
Tycoon Lil went on to place another four times in Australian Group 1 races, including placings behind Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) in the 1998 Caulfield S. and Cox Plate.
Unbeaten gelding popular
Unbeaten Written Tycoon gelding Outsmarted sold for $150,000 to Chan Investments as a racing prospect and potential Hong Kong export.
Outsmarted has been prepared by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou to win his only two starts to date at Bathurst and Canberra, the latest in January.
Outsmarted | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
He was sold by Segenhoe to TFI at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $220,000.
TFI put him up for digital sale, noting he had a Hong Kong rating of 63 and has been fully vetted for HK and has been deemed eligible for import as lot to moderate risk.
Outsmarted is a three-quarter-brother to the G1 Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon), being from that gelding’s winning half-sister Taraji (Bramshaw).
Outsmarted | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The two $150,000 lots spearheaded total trading of $2,520,399 at the Inglis Digital March (Early) Online Sale.
A total of 299 lots were sold at a clearance of 73.65 per cent and average of $8429.
The annual Kooringal Stud yearling draft contributed $110,900 to the sale total.
$1.1 million yearling on-sold
Stakes-winning colt and former $1.1 million yearling Godfather (I Am Invincible) was sold to Brendan Nelson for $55,000.
He was sold as a racing prospect “sound and fit to resume his preparation” but was being offered for sale because “he does not fit the owners’ aims of racing stallion prospects.”
Godfather | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Godfather was a $1.1 million Magic Millions purchase for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership in 2022.
He is by Champion Sire I Am Invincible from the G2 Armanasco S. winner Meliora (Ad Valorem {USA}), making him a brother to G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) and Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings) winner I Am Immortal.
Godfather won the Listed Phelan Ready S. on debut at Eagle Farm in December 2022 before running 14th in that season’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic behind Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready).
He had a number of trials leading into last year’s Sydney autumn carnival, but did not race and instead had tie-back surgery and a knee chip removed in April.
He has had two runs back from a spell and most recently was second to Bubba’s Bay (Cable Bay {Ire}) in a Class 5 Handicap at Doomben.
