The debut auction from the Inglis Digital USA platform closed July 17 and was led by the $235,000 sale of race mare Lucky Girl .
The sale marked the first endeavor for the new Inglis Digital USA platform, which previously operated under the Wanamaker’s banner before partnering with the Australian-based William Inglis & Son, and relaunching earlier this year.
Wednesday’s returns saw 22 horses sell from 50 offered for a gross of $456,259 and an average price of $20,739. The buy-back rate was 56%.
“We were excited to get underway for the first time as Inglis Digital USA,” said Liza Hendriks, CEO of Inglis Digital USA. “There was interest from all over the world and the influence of the Inglis name was apparent with our sales topper ultimately headed back to Australia. We appreciate the support from all of our buyers and sellers and look forward to our next sale in August. I encourage anyone to reach out to myself or Kyle (Wilson, senior director of sales and recruitment) if there’s anything we can do.”
Lucky Girl sold to Beagle Bloodstock on behalf of Australia’s Kia Ora Stud, for $235,000.
The Irish-born 5-year-old daughter of Australian champion sire Exceed And Excel was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, having won three of 18 starts and earned $202,863.
Trained by Phil D’Amato, Lucky Girl tallied victories in the 2022 Lady of Shamrock Stakes, 2022 China Doll Stakes, and 2023 Swingtime Stakes in Southern California. She was consigned by Grovendale Sales, agent, based from D’Amato’s barn at Los Alamitos Race Course.
“We’re very pleased with the result,” said Grovendale’s James Keogh. “The international interest was particularly strong and encouraging for the future.”
Out of the winning Arcano mare Abbey Angel, Lucky Girl’s broad international pedigree features grade/group 3 winners Albabilia and Royalty Interest , along with black-type-earning runners in the United States, England, Ireland, France, the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, and Sweden.
Based in Scone, Australia, Kia Ora Stud is one of the continent’s oldest and most successful Thoroughbred operations, with roots tracing back over a century.
“We are stoked to have secured Lucky Girl in the inaugural Inglis Digital USA online sale,” said Shane Wright, bloodstock and breeding manager for Kia Ora Stud. “We will keep her in training in the U.S., as she has a grade 2 appointment next month at Del Mar, and then make a decision on her future after that run.
“Regardless of if she is bred this season or not, she will make a perfect addition to the Kia Ora broodmare band in the future,” he continued. “The world is becoming a much smaller place given the opportunities a platform like Inglis Digital USA allow. We have had some great success with Northern Hemisphere bloodlines before. We have used Inglis Digital for both buying and selling here in Australia and the U.S. platform is just as easy and user friendly, and I’m sure we will be back again in the future.”
Bringing the day’s second-highest price was Otello , a stakes-winning Curlin colt who sold to bloodstock agent Joseph Migliore for $95,000.
The 3-year-old started his year on a high note with a victory in the listed Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 1 at Gulfstream Park. He previously raced as a homebred for Siena Farm, which co-owned the colt with WinStar Farm. WinStar consigned the colt, and offered him for inspection at its farm near Versailles, Ky.
Otello is out of the grade 2-winning Eskendereya mare Isabella Sings , whose three foals to race are all winners. 1996 champion grass horse Singspiel, international group 1 winner Campanologist, and prominent sire Rahy can all be found in his pedigree.
“We’ve been watching the digital sales grow in popularity and thought this was the right time to jump in,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “We got both of our horses sold and had a great time working with the Inglis Digital USA team.”
WinStar also sold Head of the Class , a 3-year-old Awesome Slew colt, to Gregory Viands for $30,000.
Stakes winner Gabaldon , a 2-year-old colt by Gone Astray who placed in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in his most recent start, failed to meet his reserve, hammering at $390,000. Another headliner in the sale, two-time grade 3 winner Hazelbrook in foal to 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify , was a buy-back at $575,000.
Gabaldon wins the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Entries for the Inglis Digital USA August Sale are open now, and will close July 29. The catalog will be released Aug. 2, and the horses will sell Aug. 7.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
