A taste of the ‘Frankel phenomenon’ through G1 winner Converge led Evergreen Stud’s Tony Bott to purchase quality broodmare Poetic Harmony, the sale-topper in today’s Inglis Digital December Online Auction.
Poetic Harmony (Poet’s Voice) – which Bott bought for $300,000 - was offered in foal to Champion European Sire Frankel, the same sire as Bott’s JJ Atkins winner Converge, which his son Adrian trains alongside Gai Waterhouse.
Today’s purchase is one that Bott hopes will lead to the same success he enjoyed during this year’s Brisbane carnival with Converge.
“We thought we’d roll the dice, Converge really whetted our appetite with Frankel and we thought this might be the best way to get another Frankel into our system so we’ve bought the mare now and we’ll see what we get,’’ Bott said.
“I’ll be honest, I hope it’s a colt, we’re mainly looking to race this foal so ideally it’s a colt and if it’s a filly we might look to sell her as a yearling but if it’s a colt and we can get him to the top, it would be fantastic.’’
Poetic Harmony will fly from Europe to Australia on a charter flight in February and settle into life at Evergreen where she will hopefully foal down later next year.
Her sale led to an overall gross for the December Online Sale of $3,117,000 at an 80% clearance rate.
Bott, a self-confessed “dinosaur’’ when it comes to technology, described Inglis Digital as “very easy to navigate’’.
“It’s a very good platform, I mean if I can make it work, anyone can, it’s really very easy and useful,’’ Bott said.
“My son Aaron uses it a lot and he keeps me across what’s there each sale, I get the emails that come out before each sale of the better mares which is really helpful, I always have a look at them and I’ll keep doing so.’’
For Poetic Harmony’s vendor Adrian O’Brien of Hazelwood Bloodstock, the result was “absolutely fantastic’’.
“We’re really happy with the result, really happy,’’ O’Brien said.
“It’s our first time selling online in the Southern Hemisphere. The Tattersalls Sale here in December was another option for her but I spent many years in Australia and over the past few years, so many people have told me what a wonderful way it is to sell horses, through Inglis Digital.
“We like to be innovative and think outside the box so we went this way and we’re delighted with the result.
“[Inglis Bloodstock CEO] Sebastian [Hutch] and [Inglis Digital Sales Consultant] Mary Anne [Bozsity] down there have been brilliant, they’ve had to lead us through the process as we’re rookies but it’s been seamless. Quite frankly, I enjoyed the process.’’
Today’s auction capped off a huge year for the Inglis Digital platform, which grossed a staggering $84,210,657 – a 62% year-on-year increase – this calendar year.
“The support we’ve had from vendors and from buyers has been quite extraordinary really and we couldn’t be happier with how the year has played out,’’ Inglis Digital’s Business Manager Nick Melmeth said.
“At the end of the day we have continued to prove ourselves the No.1 place to buy and sell a horse online in the Southern Hemisphere and that is very satisfying not only for us but for our clients, who reap the rewards of what has been five years of hard work to get to this point.
“With more than 2000 Australian race wins by Inglis Digital graduates in 2021 and a significant increase in turnover, all we ever hope for is success for those who support us and that’s the most satisfying thing about these results.’’
The next Inglis Digital Online Auction will be held from January 7-12.
Entries are now open and close at midnight on January 5.
