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...
Hat-Trick for Trelawney Stud Blueblood Filly
Well-related Trelawney Stud filly Madiyya signed off her three-year-old season with a third straight win, this time over 1600m in the A$150,000 Rod Griffiths Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
Ears Back Wins Listed Stakes at Wanganui
A two-race North Island campaign has ended on a career-defining high for Ears Back and her Rangiora trainer John Blackadder, who scored their first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui.
First Local Win As New Endeavour (IRE) Records Stakes Success
While it may have taken the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained New Endeavour (IRE) a while to record his first Australian success, connections were rewarded for their patience as the 5yo dominated under Tim Clark to win the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
Kiwi Bred Campaldino Wins G3 for Darby
Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence.
Stakes Potential for New Hello Youmzain Winner
Late-season black type is on the radar for Platinum Diamond after an impressive upset victory in Saturday’s Full Circle Appearance Medicine 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui.
Niance Overcomes Serious Injury to Claim Stakes Victory
Exciting New Zealand-bred mare Niance has bounced back from a serious injury and picked up right where she left off last spring, collecting her third consecutive black-type win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Bright Future for El Roca 3YO
Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock, who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 31
Here is the full list of 116 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
When in Doubt Back a Frankel!
The $200,000 Listed ATC Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m ) at Rosehill on Saturday attracted a competitive field of 14 stayers, the bulk of them imports and when you strike an open race like that it’s often wise to follow this piece of advice – when in doubt back a Frankel!
Three Straight Stakes Wins For Cool Aza Beel’s Cool Archie
With no two-year-old currently performing better in Queensland, the Chirs and Corey Munce trained Cool Archie continued his outstanding form, taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), his third consecutive black type victory.