Ringmaster (Zoustar) became the third most expensive lot to sell on the Inglis Digital platform when he topped Wednesday's January (Late) Sale. Sold by Newgate Farm and partners, the Michael Freedman-trained colt will head to Hong Kong after selling to Mrs CF Lee, a client of Inglis' Hong Kong representative Alan Ho, for $435,000.
Only Ranch Hand (Fastnet Rock) ($600,000) and Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock) ($500,000) have sold for more in the racehorses section of the Inglis Digital Platform.
"We had interest privately to sell him into Hong Kong but Inglis had made it clear to us that they were keen to build this premium Hong Kong segment of this digital marketplace and we were happy to support them and have been ultimately very well rewarded for that decision,'' Newgate's Henry Field said.
"We made a commitment to the Inglis team to put forward a nice proper Hong Kong-style horse onto the platform when one came up and Ringmaster was the perfect horse to put forward and it was great to see him make such a really strong price.
"We're delighted with the transaction. From a selling point of view today, [Inglis Digital is] so easy, straight forward and transparent and from a buyers' perspective, it gives every buyer a fair chance to see what's for sale and everything they need to know before they decide if they want to try and buy it or not."
Ho said that a trainer in Hong Kong was yet to be decided for Ringmaster.
"My client is yet to decide on a trainer, we are still in discussions there but he's a lovely horse who I'm sure will be a success up here in Hong Kong," said Ho.
"He's an exciting acquisition and we're thrilled to get him."
Ringmaster was one of three lots to sell for $200,000 or more during the sale with Bollinger Rose (More Than Ready) making $285,000 and Bohemian Daisy (Hellbent) selling for $235,000. Another three lots made $100,000 or more with the sale grossing $3,354,950. The average finished at $16,859 and the clearance rate was 81 per cent.
A winner and the dam of one winner to date, Bollinger Rose was sold not in foal and with a Toronado (High Chaparral) colt at foot. Out of Group 1 winner Bollinger (Dehere), making her a half-sister to the Group winners Friesan Fire (A P Indy) and Villermont (All Too Hard) and sold for $285,000 to Hunter Valley Bloodstock.
The Annabel Neasham-offered Bohemian Daisy was purchased by Widden Stud and partners. The three-year-old raced four times for two placings, the best of those coming on debut when third in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) in November 2021.
She will now be retired and join the Widden broodmare band, with a stallion to be decided upon in coming weeks.
"She's very easy to breed with and she's got good juvenile speed which we believe to be important,'' Widden's Matt Comerford said.
"We spoke to Annabel about her and she was very helpful with her thoughts. She's a quality filly and had plenty of racing ability as was shown with her Group 3 placing on debut and we have absolute confidence she's going to make a beautiful broodmare."
