G1 winner Western Empire capped off a hallmark day for Inglis Digital graduates when he won last night’s $1.5m G3 Gold Rush at Ascot in Perth.
Offered in last year’s October (Early) Sale by Bob and Sandra Peters, Western Empire was purchased for $150,000 by Dean Harvey.
Despite drawing barrier 15 in the Gold Rush the 7YO travelled well throughout for jockey Billy Egan, who came wide rounding the home turn before Western Empire let down to win comfortably.
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained gelding has raced eight times since selling on Inglis Digital and finished in the placings on six occasions – including three G3 wins - and earned $1,177,200.
Western Empire’s win came just hours after fellow Inglis Digital graduate Robusto won the $2m The Ingham at Randwick, capping a huge day for the world’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform.
“It really was a big day for Inglis Digital, for Western Empire and Robusto to both win feature big prizemoney races is a nice salute to the platform,’’ Harvey said.
“I bought Western Empire for some existing clients in Perth as well as a client over this part of the country and Grant and Alana desperately wanted him back in their stables.
“He was obviously a high class horse who’d lost his way a little bit but Grant always held the key to him and it’s great that he’s got him back somewhere near his best.
“I remember straight after I’d bought him on Inglis Digital I had four or five calls from trainers in Perth who were keen to train him so he was very popular. $150,000 looks cheap in hindsight!’’
Winning co-trainer Grant Williams added: “It’s been our goal for a while now. He was working so well in the lead-up to the [G1] Winterbottom [Stakes] last start we thought we were a big chance to win that but obviously things didn’t pan out but now we’ve got this one. It’s amazing.’’
Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth described Saturday’s results as “remarkable’’.
“The platform has sold horses to win G1 races in the past like Bella Vella and Mariamia etc but to have two graduates win $1m+ races on the same day is amazing,’’ Melmeth said.
“Robusto was so tough in The Ingham and Western Empire, he might be a 7YO now but he won with the same dominance and enthusiasm as when he won the G1 Railway Stakes three years ago, he’s got a whole new lease on life.
“We’re so proud to see our Inglis Digital graduates win these big races that their owners dream about and we look forward to selling many more of them in 2025 and beyond.’’
With the calendar year coming to an end, Inglis Digital graduates have won an incredible one in five races in Australia in 2024.
Entries are currently open for the Inglis Digital January Online Sale, which will be held from January 17-22.
Entries close at midnight on Wednesday January 15.
To enter CLICK HERE.
