Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography
At A Glance
The Everest contender Ninja (Farnan) is valued at $5.5 million after a 1% share sold for $55,000 in the 4-year-old gelding.
A 5% share in Group 2 winner Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}) sold for $60,000 making her worth $1.2 million.
Defensemen (Wootton Bassett {GB}) topped the sale at $200,000 and will head to Hong Kong.
Ninja share thrills with massive valuation
Timing is everything in racing. When Ninja (Farnan) won a trial against The Everest hot favourite Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) on Tuesday, all eyes were looking at the 1% share in him on Inglis Digital.
Sold by Gary Diamond, the 1% share made $55,000, valuing the 4-year-old gelding at $5.5 million.
“I’m so happy,” Diamond said.
“Even though it’s a lot of money for a 1% share in a gelding, in a way the final price doesn’t surprise me at the same time because a lot of people want a share in a Group 1 horse, the Everest is becoming the most popular race in Australia and it’s a small percentage so it’s more affordable.
“Yesterday’s trial obviously couldn’t have come at a better time but the marketing done by the Inglis team was amazing. When I saw the video you did of him, I thought I should increase the reserve or withdraw the entry because it even got me excited!
Gary Diamond | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Hand on heart, I hope the horse wins The Everest for the new owner and one thing I’ve learned the past few days is I now know I can see myself doing more of this, selling shares with Inglis Digital down the track with the right horse.”
The new owner is Glenugie resident David Blumberg who has achieved his dream of having a runner in The Everest.
“I’ve been following Ninja for a while and was interested in this share before the barrier trial win, I’d actually bid before the trial and then when he came out and beat Ka Ying Rising hard held, I knew I was going to have to increase my budget because I really wanted him,” Blumberg said.
“It’s unbelievable to think I’ve now got a runner in The Everest and it’s all from a few clicks of a button. I find that incredible.
“I’ll actually be at Caulfield next Saturday because I have a share in Royal Supremacy with Ciaron Maher which is running in the Caulfield Cup the same day.”
Ninja | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Royal Supremacy (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) goes into the G1 Caulfield Cup off a last start win in the G3 JRA Cup.
“But the beauty of Ninja is there’s a good chance he’ll go to the Golden Eagle after the Everest so it will be a $20m race followed by a $10m race – even for my 1% that could be a very nice pay day.
“I found Inglis Digital brilliant, (Credit and Collections Manager) Michael (Ng) especially was unbelievably helpful, I just found it amazing how easy it all was and how much information was available. As soon as I was no longer the top bidder I would receive a text message and all I had to do was click a link and I was back in front, it was that simple.”
Cherry Bomshell valued at $1.2 million
ML Thoroughbreds’ Jo Borg purchased a 2.5% share in Decorum (Snitzel) at the September Inglis Digital sale and was rewarded three days later when the Michael Freedman-trained 4-year-old gelding won at Rosehill. She reinvested into a 5% share in 3-year-old filly Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}), paying $60,000 which values the Group 2 winner at $1.2 million.
“I fell in love with the name,” Borg said.
Cherry Bomshell
“If she keeps going on an upward trajectory and wins another black type race, she will be a more valuable broodmare. I’m still on a high from Decorum’s win, it was awesome, so when I saw the Cherry Bomshell share come online, I just couldn’t help myself!”
Australian Bloodstock and Archibald Racing paid $200,000 for Cherry Bomshell as a yearling from Yulong’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. She has won three of her seven starts including the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes last season and resumed this season in the G3 Silver Shadow Stakes then was fourth in the G2 Furious Stakes before running in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes last start.
Defenseman tops the sale
Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old gelding Defensemen (Wootton Bassett {GB}) topped Wednesday’s sale at $200,000 to the bid of We Bloodstock who will likely take him to Hong Kong.
“We’re happy with this result, we had a lot of interest in the horse and as always, the process with Inglis Digital is very smooth,” vendor Coolmore’s Brian McGuire said.
Defensemen Inglis
“It’s a big part of our business, selling colts and geldings, and we have sold some quality horses via Inglis Digital such as Group 1 winner Caballus.
“We wish the purchaser the best of luck, I believe he could be destined for Hong Kong where we have sold the likes of Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat, an Inglis Easter graduate.”
Originally a $1.4 million purchase by Tom Magnier at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from Yarraman Park Stud, Defensemen placed three times at two from six starts. He is a half-brother to Group 2-placed Direct (Siyouni {Fr}).
The only other lot to hit six figures was Ciaron Maher-trained unraced 3-year-old gelding Bogey Free (NZ) (El Roca) who sold to Eclipse Holdings for $190,000. He won a trial at Cranbourne in mid-September.
In total the October (Early) Sale grossed $2,178,050.
