Stakes-winning mare Flirtini tonight topped a spectacular Inglis Digital July (Late) Sale which grossed $4,379,450 and saw six horses realise $200,000 or more.
The aggregate – on top of the July (Early) Sale and ‘The Sierra Sue Sale’ which was held in the middle of the month as a bespoke auction – saw the July gross for the Inglis Digital platform reach $11,331,600, making it the third-best month since its inception.
The July (Late) Sale was also the fourth consecutive to gross in excess of $4m and 6th from the past seven Inglis Digital sales to do so.
Flirtini was a fabulous result for her owner Barrie McRostie – he bought her for $150,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, she made more than $600,000 on the track and today sold for a sale-topping $385,000.
“We’re so happy with the result, you guys did a great job marketing her and I think that played a big role in the result,’’ McRostie said.
“I’ve sold online before but nothing special like her. When we came up with the idea, we thought $300,000 was her price so to get nearly $400,000 was a real bonus.
“It was an enjoyable experience, watching it all unfold online. I’ll certainly be putting more horses in to sell with Inglis Digital moving forward.’’
Flirtini was purchased by Gordon and Janise Shannon of Procyon Services.
“We paid more than we expected but that’s the way the market is for these good mares at the moment,’’ Gordon said.
“She’ll stay at Widden and visit one of the Widden stallions, I’m just not sure which one yet.
“She was a terrifically fast mare with a very impressive record and a nice pedigree. All in all I’m very happy to have her – I paid a bit too much for her from what I was planning, but I’m very happy.
“This was my first time using Inglis Digital but it was great, so easy, you always knew when you were the leading bidder or had been outbid and you just go again until she’s yours!’’
Today’s second-top lot was Zing (Zoustar), who sold to Kenmore Lodge for $310,000.
Offered by Chris Waller Racing on behalf of Ollie Koolman and the ownership group, Zing achieved a “fabulous result’’ according to Koolman.
“Inglis Digital has done it again!’’ a delighted Koolman said post-sale.
“We’re thrilled with the price, it was a last minute decision to even sell her and only really came about when she got black type on her page a couple of weeks ago and we’re just really lucky as sellers that there are twice monthly sales with Inglis Digital to capitalise on the market effectively instantly with mares like this and take advantage of that.
“We’ve sold the likes of Funstar, Lucicello and now Zing through Inglis Digital and when horses managed by me are offered online with Inglis, they are offered for unreserved sale and we get spirited bidding as a result because people know the product and know it’s an unreserved sale.’’
Kellie Bond of Kenmore Lodge confirmed Zing would “more than likely’’ go straight to stud but was undecided as to which stallion she would visit first.
“We’ve bought a lot of mares over the past couple of years on Inglis Digital, she’s the dearest one we’ve bought but we’re really happy to have got her,’’ Bond said.
“The platform is great for us, we’re close friends with [Inglis’ NSW Bloodstock Manager] Chris Russell and he guides us with these mares, as he did again today with Zing. We certainly had to pay enough for her but that’s what the market does.’’
The July (Late) third-top lot was Derive (Redoute’s Choice), who the Lucky Vega Syndicate purchased for $290,000.
She was offered by Ellerton Racing as agent for owners Barrie and Midge Griffiths.
“I would have been happy to race her on with my son-in-law if she didn’t sell and just leave her with Mathew [Ellerton] but she obviously made way above what we thought she would so you really need to take advantage of results like this when you can,’’ Barrie Griffiths said.
“It was a great result, I’m very happy. Inglis Digital is so straight forward to use, it makes a lot of sense that instead of dragging mares to a sale, you just put them online with you guys and they seem to sell very well. It’s a great way to buy and sell.’’
Sam Fairgray of Lucky Vega Syndicate added: “We’ll get her back to the farm and make a decision soon enough but she’ll go to either Lucky Vega or Tagaloa.
“Mr Zhang was very excited by the Redoute’s Choice factor, he’s obviously a fantastic broodmare sire, they’re not making any more of them so if you can get your hands on them, you may as well try.’’
Other notable results out of the July (Late) Sale include Miss Albania – who sold to the Tagaloa Syndicate for $270,000 – Anagain, who realised $265,000 to Kitchwin Hills and Crystal Dynasty, who Yevrah Investments purchased for $200,000.
With the 2021/22 racing season less than a week away from its conclusion, Inglis Digital graduates continue to produce results on the racetrack.
In a spectacular season to date, Inglis Digital grads have won 3001 Australian races – or 1 in every 6 races – amassing $42,959,312 in prizemoney.
It comes off the back of the 2020/21 season which saw Inglis online graduates win approximately 1 in every 9 Australian races.
Entries for the August (Early) Sale are now open and will remain so until midnight on Wednesday August 3.
