A third successive Inglis Digital auction has resulted in a mare selling for seven figures as Jamaea stole the show in the July (Late) Sale, realising $1,025,000.
Offered by managing owner Bruce Noble on behalf of the ownership group, the Robert and Luke Price-trained Jamaea was always going to attract significant attention, given her outstanding credentials.
But not even Noble saw $1,025,000 coming, with the mare eventually selling to powerhouse Yulong, who persevered following a protracted bidding duel.
“Once she hit her reserve, I decided that every $50,000 I’d have a beer. Let’s just say I’ll sleep pretty well tonight!’’ an elated Noble said.
“You always dream of selling a $1m mare but when it comes down to it, there really aren’t that many people walking around with that sort of money to spend so you never genuinely expect to reach those heights, but we’ve done it today and it’s bloody amazing.
“For a $130,000 filly who won over $1m on the track and now sells for over $1m, we just can’t believe it.
“I’ve been around a long time and I know it’s bloody hard to get seven figures for a horse of any kind so I thought if she could hit $900,000 it would be huge but the $1,025,000, it’s really just the icing on the cake.
“She’s sold so well, we’re just all ecstatic. The Inglis team has been excellent to deal with, we all kept in touch the past few weeks, it’s been a really personable experience and we’re privileged to have been involved.’’
Yulong’s Sam Fairgray confirmed Jamaea would be served by the newest first season sire on the Yulong stallion roster, Diatonic.
“We want to give Diatonic some really nice mares in his first season to give him the best possible chance and we think Jamaea is perfect for him,’’ Fairgray said.
“She’s an attractive race mare with a great record, a multiple Group 2 winner and performed at both two and three so we’re delighted to have her.
“The bidding certainly wasn’t easy – it’s getting harder and harder to buy these top-level mares but Mr Zhang wants to keep putting together an elite broodmare band so it’s great that Jamaea will be joining the group.
“We knew her price would be at the pointy end, these mares are attractive to a lot of people and bring top prices, it’s certainly not easy being a buyer of these elite mares at the moment.’’
Today’s second-top lot was Brookspire, the race mare and breeding prospect offered by Chris Waller Racing and owners, headed by Brae Sokolski.
Such was Brookspire’s extraordinary popularity, the bidding on her didn’t end until 1.09pm - despite being scheduled to finish at midday - with five bidders on her over $400,000.
She eventually also sold to Yulong for $640,000.
Sokolski’s bloodstock manager Matt Scown described the result as “absolutely unbelievable’’.
“She sold far better than expected, I mean far better,’’ Scown said.
“We sell a lot through Inglis Digital and every horse we’ve put through has exceeded our expectation, we love the platform, [Inglis Digital Business Manager] Nick Melmeth and the team do an amazing job each and every sale and the hard work he and his team put in behind the scenes is what makes the platform stand out.
“Thanks also to Chris Waller and his team, they’ve done an outstanding job with Brookspire throughout her racing career, she’s won just under $1m and is Group placed, it’s been an awesome journey with her.’’
On Brookspire, Fairgray added: “We bought Brookspire’s half sister Inspirational Girl at the Chairman’s Sale so it’s just about putting together a family that Mr Zhang has full belief in.
“Like Jamaea, Brookspire will also visit Diatonic this season. She’s a nice race mare who certainly sold for more than we thought she might, but again, you have to almost expect that to some extent with these nicer mares.’’
Other strong results in the July (Late) Sale – which saw four horses realise $300,000 or more – included a share in outstanding young stallion Proisir, which sold to Ultra Thoroughbreds for $380,000 and WA mare Clairvoyance – offered by Impressive Racing - which Liam Peters of Byerley Bloodstock purchased for $330,000.
Sean Buckley of Ultra Thoroughbreds said he’d been outbid on the past two Proisir shares that have hit the market – at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May and on Inglis Digital in March this year – but was adamant he wasn’t getting outbid today.
“Persistence pays off,’’ a delighted Buckley said.
“I love the horse, I think he’s one of the best two stallions in Australasia alongside Savabeel. I think he’s a superstar.
“I’ll send two mares to him and I’m just so pleased to have bought this share today because he’s a sire I think is going to feature heavily for many, many years to come.’’
Today’s fourth-top lot, Clairvoyance, will remain in WA, having been purchased by Byerley Bloodstock.
Byerley’s Liam Peters said: “We’re delighted to have been able to buy her. She never really got to show her full potential on the track but we think she will make a beautiful broodmare.
“We haven’t locked in a stallion for her maiden cover but we’ll work on that in the next couple of weeks and see where we land.’’
In total, the July (Late) Sale grossed $4,672,250, ensuring July became the second most successful month in Inglis Digital history, thanks to a bumper July (Early) Sale as well as the boutique Miss Roseiano Sale which has resulted in a monthly gross of $13,283,900.
“Success breeds success and it’s certainly been a fabulous month for the platform, with the likes of Miss Roseiano ($1.275m), Another Award ($1.2m), Daisies ($920,000), More Aspen in foal to Maschino ($720,000) and then these results today making for some fabulous results for our clients,’’ Inglis Digital’s Business Manager Nick Melmeth said.
“We are hugely motivated by the opportunities that vendors afford us and it’s really rewarding for us as a team to see these great results – at all levels of the spectrum – each and every sale.
“We pride ourselves on working hard and providing a comprehensive service and we can’t wait for the rest of the year to see what’s ahead.’’
Entries for the August (Early) Sale are now open and will remain so until midnight next Wednesday, August 2.
The Sale will be held from August 4-9.
To enter CLICK HERE.
