The quality racing and breeding prospect Manolo Bling (Grunt) topped today’s Inglis Digital February (Late) Online Sale, selling to Highgrove Stud’s Ron Gilbert for $275,000.
The 4YO mare was offered by Anthony Freedman Racing on behalf of Rob Cummings and the mare’s ownership group.
Gilbert confirmed Manolo Bling would be transferred to Kelly Schweida’s Queensland stable and continue racing until the end of the season before joining the farm’s broodmare band.
“We’ll mix things up with her, new trainer, new surroundings, sometimes that helps these mares switch on a bit more again so we’ll try that but either way, she will go to stud later this year,’’ Gilbert said.
“I haven’t sat down and given a stallion much thought yet to be honest but being Stakes placed and out of a family as good as this, she could be going to one of the top-end stallions.
“I don’t normally buy race mares like her to breed with, I normally buy mares in foal because it’s closer to a result but I just really liked the look of this mare, I liked the family, I liked her pedigree, she’s won over $400,000 and she’s already Stakes placed and just really fitted the mould so I’m really happy to have her.
“She was at the top end of the budget, I thought she was a $250,000 mare and if someone had gone another bid to $280,000 I probably would have been out of play but I got the win so it’s great.
“Inglis Digital is very simple, [Inglis Bloodstock Sales Manager] Will [Stott] did everything for me, I’m a bit technically challenged but the staff at Inglis make it easy that even I can buy or sell a horse online.’’
Cummings added: “We’re really happy with the result, she’s been a nice mare and we’re just scaling down a bit and Will [Stott] has always been amazing for us, I can’t thank him enough, he’s fantastic.
“I’ve always used Inglis Digital and I’m happy to keep going through Will and Inglis, he always keeps in touch and makes it very easy, that’s what I like about it so much.’’
Among many other outstanding results in today’s sale was the second-top lot, the Newgate Farm-offered 3YO colt North England (Farnan), which sold to Lofty Thoroughbreds for $200,000 to the delight of Newgate’s Henry Field.
“He’s been a terrific colt for our partnership,’’ Field said.
“We bought him for $280,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale, he won a Golden Gift and Kindergarten Stakes and almost $1m in prizemoney along the way and we’re really pleased with today’s result in the Inglis Digital sale with his price of $200,000.
“Wishing the new owners all the very best with him.’’
A further three lots realised six figures in the sale – the broodmares Absolute Flirt (with an Anamoe filly at foot) made $160,000 to Jorshan Investments, Sense Of Honour in foal to Home Affairs sold for $150,000 to Ivan Danzo and Reeh in foal to Switzerland and with a Unite And Conquer filly at foot realised $120,000 to Blue Oak Equine.
In total the sale grossed $4,783,100.
Entries are now open for the March (Early) Sale, and will remain so until midnight next Wednesday, March 4.
The sale will run from March 6-11.
To enter CLICK HERE.
