Robusto Not the Only Inglis Digital Graduate to Win Big on Saturday

Media Release - Sunday December 15

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.

Western Empire was bred by Bob and Sandra Peters and sold through Inglis Digital  for $150,000 last year - image Western Racepix

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.’’

Advertisement

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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.