Sierra Sue has today become the most expensive horse sold online in Australia this year, realising $1.55m to the bid of Bill Pearce’s Bromfield Park.
Offered unreserved in a bespoke Inglis Digital auction by G1 Bloodstock as agent for the Sierra Sue Syndicate, the Busuttin/Young-trained mare caught the attention of a plethora of bidders before finally selling to Pearce.
In doing so, she becomes the second most expensive horse ever sold on Inglis Digital behind Funstar, who realised $2.7m 12 months ago.
Pearce confirmed Sierra Sue would be retired immediately and sent to the breeding barn this upcoming season.
“We’re really thrilled with the acquisition, Ozzie [Kheir], who was a shareholder in the mare, showed some interest in staying in her, we raced [Cox Plate winner] Sir Dragonet and a few others together, and I was very interested in her given she’s a two-time Group 1 winner, so it’s great to have won the battle today,’’ Pearce said.
“I just loved her as a race mare, she was so honest and so talented and if she can bring those traits to her broodmare career, she’s going to produce some magnificent foals.
“We’ll sit down together in the next week or so and work out which stallion she’ll go to first up.
“I’ve bought five mares off Inglis Digital now and I really like the platform. It’s very easy to use, it’s professionally handled, there is great quality to buy and it’s a seamless process overall.’’
Kheir’s bloodstock manager Mat Becker of G1 Bloodstock described today’s result as “a win for everybody involved’’.
“Ozzie is staying in her with Bill, they’re both clients of mine so I get to remain involved, and those owners who have sold out of her today have got a great result with her. She’s been nothing but good to everybody,’’ Becker said.
“To the team at Inglis, the whole process was so well handled, it was seamless and professional from our perspective and we feel there wasn’t a major breeder globally that wasn’t aware this mare was for sale today, which helped us achieve the best result possible and as a seller, you can’t ask for much more than that.’’
Inglis Digital’s Business Manager Nick Melmeth added: “There was significant bidding activity all the way through, as you would expect with a mare of Sierra Sue’s quality, by some of the racing and breeding industries’ biggest players.
“She was an inexpensive young horse, won over $1.7m in earnings on the track and now sells for $1.55m, so it’s a phenomenal story.
“I’d like to thank Ozzie Kheir and all the partners in Sierra Sue and Mat Becker, who brought the idea to offer her online to life, for entrusting us with the responsibility of selling her.
“This is yet another extraordinary result achieved through Inglis Digital and with the breeding season almost upon us, there is no better way to offer stock to what is a massive, and ever-growing, market of domestic and international buyers.’’
Attention now moves to the Inglis Digital July (Late) Sale, for which entries close at midnight tonight.
Already confirmed for the sale is dual Group-winning speedster Flirtini (Artie Schiller), as well as Group placed race mares Zing (Zoustar) and Anagain (Hinchinbrook).
The catalogue will be lotted on Friday morning and be open for bidding from 3pm Friday.
To enter, CLICK HERE.
