12 lots sell for $100,000 plus during August (Early) sale
The latest Inglis Digital sale concluded on Wednesday evening with 12 lots selling for $100,000 or more and a breeding right in Yarraman Park's I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) topping the sale when sold to Three Bridges Thoroughbreds – on behalf of their client Pete Murray – for $520,000.
"Pete is always looking to strengthen his product and you can't strengthen any breeding set-up much more than getting a breeding right to the Champion Sire,'' Three Bridges' Toby Liston said.
"Vinnie is great to be involved with and when he no doubt goes to private in years to come, Pete will have access to him.
"We figured he'd cost double service fee and as it turned out, it was double service fee plus some but we were adamant we wanted it.
"We love Inglis Digital, always have, Nick [Melmeth] and Steph [Carrruthers] do an unbelievable job, it's great to be a part of it again and get our hands on some of the best lots in the catalogue. Every time the catalogue comes out every fortnight we're straight online!''
The second-top lot was Savabeel (Zabeel) mare Duchess Kate, sold in foal to Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt).
Offered by Kitchwin Hills on behalf of her owner Max Whitby, Duchess Kate sold to John Wheeler for $455,000.
Wheeler also purchased the well-bred mare Avila (Written Tycoon - Makybe Diva by Desert King) for $125,000 and Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Vinay (in foal to Coolmore Australia shuffler Wootton Bassett) for $250,000 in the sale.
All three will this season visit exciting young stallion Russian Camelot (Camelot) of which Wheeler is the largest shareholder.
"I'm actively out there looking for and buying mares for Russian Camelot, I'll keep looking and as the right ones become available and while I don't run out of money, I'll pick them up as I go,'' Wheeler said.
"These Savabeel mares are very good and at the end of the day I'm hopeful Duchess Kate will measure up; she certainly does on all the breeding indicators.
"I thought $400,000 was where I'd need to go to get her but clearly there was somebody else, or some people else, who were keen on her as well and that's what happens, when two people want the same thing, you've got to pay more than you want.''
Kitchwin's Mick Malone added: "I'm so happy, really happy with that. I mean I'm sad to see her go but so happy with the price.
"It's the right time to sell her. She's already the dam of the highest-priced First Season Sire yearling in The Autumn Sun at $950,000 and she's absolutely the type who could achieve that again with Farnan when this foal hits the sale ring.''
The August (Early) sale grossed $5,095,600, with an average of $22,546, with 12 lots realising $100,000 or more.
The next Inglis Digital Online Auction is the 'August Boutique Sale' featuring three Australian Bloodstock mares Wandabaa, Enchanted Heart and Lunakorn.
