Guy Mulcaster hopes Ranch Hand – who he bought for $600,000 in today’s Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale – can develop into a stallion prospect, potentially as early as this weekend.
Ranch Hand was the overall sale-topper in another highly-successful auction that also saw breeding prospects All Banter realise $320,000 to Rob Ferguson and quality producer Bollinger Rose – in foal to Toronado – sell to Simon Raleigh’s TJS Bloodstock for $300,000.
The strong top-end results helped the June (Early) Sale gross $4,032,100, the third of the past four Inglis Digital auctions to gross $4m or more.
Ranch Hand, who will remain with incumbent trainer Chris Waller, is second emergency for Saturday’s G1 Stradbroke Hcp, a race that should he gain a start in and win, would make him ‘the buy of the year’.
“Right here right now I think he made a very good price that was worthy of what he has achieved so far, I mean his form is very good and we believe he has a lot of upside as a relatively lightly-raced 3YO,’’ Mulcaster, who purchased Ranch Hand for “some very loyal stables clients’’, said.
“But if he were to come out and win the Stradbroke, well suddenly he’s a G1-winning son of Fastnet Rock who is a winner at two, a Stakes winner as a spring 3YO and a G1 winner.
“That’s obviously the plan with him ultimately, to win a G1 and to make him a stallion prospect. Even if he doesn’t get a start in the Stradbroke, he’ll run in the other race he’s accepted in at Eagle Farm on Saturday and then we’ll focus on the spring with him.’’
Mulcaster also went to $245,000 to purchase Naval Seal (Snitzel) in today’s auction, who will also remain in the Waller stable.
“He’ll be given the time he needs to mature and with the prizemoney going up everywhere, we’ve got a horse ready to go,’’ Mulcaster continued.
“I use Inglis Digital regularly, both as a buyer and seller and it’s great, it’s a really easy to use platform, everything is there right in front of you and we’ve had plenty of great results.’’
Both Ranch Hand and Naval Seal were offered by Waller Racing, in conjunction with Coolmore and partners.
Coolmore’s Racing Manager Rob Archibald said: “Ranch Hand and Naval Seal have both sold really well today, we’re very grateful to Chris and his team who have always had a lot of belief in these horses and have backed that up today by purchasing them for stable clients.
“Thanks again to Inglis, we’ve enjoyed some fantastic success selling through Inglis Digital the past six weeks especially and these are two further positive results.
“We had a lot of enquires about them in the lead-up, the videos and advertising Inglis did seemed to reach a lot of people the past week or so and that’s all we can ask for really.’’
Today’s second-top lot All Banter, offered by her trainer Richard Jolly, was “a huge result for her owners’’ when realising $320,000 to the bid of Rob Ferguson.
“We’re all so happy, we thought she’d make in the twos to be honest so to get $320,000, I’ve already had a lot of texts from the owners who are over the moon,’’ Jolly said.
“She’s been a very good mare to us, a dual Stakes winner and we thought she deserved to sell well but she’s absolutely exceeded everyone’s expectations.’’
For TJS’ Simon Raleigh, third-top lot Bollinger Rose – offered by Three Bridges - the $300,000 price tag was the upper echelon of what he thought he might have to pay but he didn’t want to miss her.
“I was happy to pay top dollar for her – and I certainly think it was top dollar – and that’s credit to Inglis Digital and the work they do in promoting these horses,’’ Raleigh said.
“She’ll go to Blue Gum now and foal down but she’s not due until December 2 so whether I leave her empty or go again straight away with her, we’ll just make a decision when we see what unfolds in six months or so. I’ve already had Newgate on the phone express an interest in getting her to one of their stallions but there’s no rush to make a call there.’’
Three Bridges’ Toby Liston added: “It’s a fantastic result, we’re big supports of Inglis Digital and Nick Melmeth and Steph [Carruthers] do a wonderful job, every couple of weeks we have stock on there and get great results, it’s just a great way to sell horses.
“There was a lot of competition on her which is always great to see when you offer horses anywhere.
“We’re actually offering the Blue Point weanling colt out of the mare tomorrow at Great Southern [lot 186], he’s been very popular at inspections this week and somebody will get the chance to take a beautiful colt home with them.’’
Other strong results from the June (Early) auction include Mars Mission - which sold to Hawkes Racing for $255,000 – and the Blue Gum Farm-offered Sheer Treasure, who realised $175,000 to Lionrock Bloodstock.
With six horses selling for $100,000 or more, it takes the total number of horses to realise six figures through Inglis Digital to 232.
The popularity of Inglis Digital has a lot to do with the success of graduates off the platform, who continue to shine on the track.
This season alone Inglis Digital-offered horses have won 2456 races in Australia for combined prizemoney of $34,802,886.
Entries for the June (Late) Sale are now open and will remain so until midnight on Wednesday June 22.
Among the early entries is tax mare Manhattan Maid, herself a Stakes winner and now proven producer, with her second foal being the G2-winning and dual G1 placed mare Moonlight Maid.
To enter in the June (Late) Sale, CLICK HERE.
