The opportunity to “buy Wednesday and go around in a Stakes race six days later’’ proved too much for Esker Lodge’s Darren Dance to ignore, tonight purchasing a 49% share in Never Again on the Inglis Digital platform.
In a boutique one-horse auction, Clinton McDonald Racing offered the rare chance to purchase into the last-start winner of the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes.
Dance won the bidding, securing the share for $70,000.
Never Again is entered for the $140,000 Listed John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield on Australia Day and will then target the G3 Shaftesbury Avenue at Flemington at his following start, a temptation Dance could not refuse.
“I’ve had a few clients waiting for me to buy a city class horse for them and this horse seemed perfect because it’s so rare that you can buy an in-form last-start Stakes winner who you know is headed to more Stakes races in coming days and weeks,’’ Dance said.
“The High Chaparrals get better with age so this horse seems very exciting and provides a wonderful opportunity to have a runner in some better races in the early autumn and after that, who knows.
“I love the Inglis Digital platform, it’s so easy, I buy and sell off it and it’s just such a great model to use as a buyer or seller.’’
McDonald believes Dance has made a smart investment by buying into Never Again.
“Darren is a great syndicator who brings people into racing and now they will have a runner in what’s looking like a winnable Stakes race on Tuesday and there’s surely no better way to get into a horse than that,’’ the trainer said.
“Inglis have been terrific with this sale, their advertising and marketing of the share has been fantastic, everybody knew about it and it was just so easy for me – I just told them I had a share of a horse to sell and everything else was done for me.
“It’s the way of the future, these Inglis online sales, when owners and trainers have horses or parts of horses they need to sell down, these past couple of days have shown how easy it is with Inglis to get the job done.’’
Never Again continues a fantastic start to the year for the Inglis Digital platform, whose January (Early) sale grossed in excess of $2.5m, further enhanced by the private post-sale of Natural Nine, who will continue his racing career in Victoria.
Entries for the January (Late) online auction close at midnight tonight, with the catalogue to be live by 3pm Friday.
The catalogue will include the unreserved dispersal of 40 lots from Rangal Park as well as Redouble, a winner of more than $1.5m in prizemoney and talented 3YO Oregon.
The final countdown of bidding will begin from 3pm next Wednesday, January 27.
To enter a horse, CLICK HERE.
