Proven broodmare Love Of Liberty – the dam of G1 Epsom Handicap winner Ellsberg – has topped the Inglis Digital April (Early) Online Sale tonight, selling to Yulong for $250,000.
Offered by Makybe, Love Of Liberty was offered in foal to Spirit Of Boom but it was primarily the opportunity to breed a close relation to Ellsberg that was what attracted Mr Zhang to the mare.
“She will likely go to Alabama Express on the back of the fact General Nediym has clicked fantastically well with sons of Redoute’s Choice,’’ Yulong’s Sam Fairgray said.
“That will make the resultant foal a very close relation to Ellsberg as well and that’s what we’re after.
“Love Of Liberty has produced a Group 1 winner so mares like her, you can only want to have them in your broodmare band.’’
Makybe’s Joe Murray was delighted with the sale.
“We’re really happy with the result,’’ Murray said.
“We bought her through Inglis Digital for $8500, made some great returns with her foals selling well and we wanted to see if the market was out there for a mare like her off the coattails of Ellsberg and it turns out that through Inglis Digital, it was.
“It’s just so easy to put these mares up online with Inglis Digital, I’ve had plenty of phone calls and emails, there was plenty of interest in her so people knew she was online.’’
Murray said Love Of Liberty was initially headed for the Chairman’s Sale but opted to take advantage of the timely and convenient nature of selling on Inglis Digital.
“We could have gone to the Chairman’s with her but everything sells just as well on the Digital Sale and you don’t have to take her out of the paddock,’’ he explained.
“To have to put her on a truck and take her all the way to the sales, especially with staff shortages at the moment, this removes that headache of one; sourcing staff and two; finding and paying for accommodation and all of that.
“We know Mr Zhang has pretty much the best band of broodmares in the country and she’ll fit right in there.’’
The purchase capped off a big week for Yulong, who bought 23 yearlings outright and a further two with partners at the Easter Yearling Sale on Monday and Tuesday for a total spend of $13,145,000.
Love Of Liberty was one of many top results in the April (Early) Sale.
Race mare Rapid Achiever – already a three-time winner from eight starts offered by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace – sold to Kambula Stud for $95,000 while 5YO Stakes-winning mare She’s The Gift sold to Bringelly Farm for $85,000.
The yearling section of the sale grossed $489,500, led by a Brave Smash colt who sold for $50,000.
The Parsons Creek-consigned son of Nowheretosomewhere was purchased by trainer Edward Cummings.
In total, the sale grossed $3,048,650 and continued a big start to the year for the platform, which its Business Manager Nick Melmeth put down to the immense support being shown by owners and breeders.
“Inglis Digital continues to be the proven leading online sales platform in the world and people know if they want instant returns on a racehorse, racehorse share, broodmare, yearling, weanling or stallion prospect, that they come to Inglis Digital and more often than not they are rewarded spectacularly,’’ Melmeth said.
“With more than 10,000 registered bidders, sellers know they have far and away the best chance of achieving great results when they sell through Inglis Digital and we look forward to continuing to work hard for those supporters to ensure those results continue.’’
Entries are now open for the April (Late) Sale and will remain so until midnight on Wednesday April 19.
The sale will run from April 21-26.
To submit an entry CLICK HERE.
