Fasika Second-Highest Lot in Inglis Digital History

Multiple group-winning sprinter Fasika became the second-highest lot in Inglis Digital history, with Suman Hedge Bloodstock purchasing the daughter of So You Think , consigned as Lot 101, for AU$920,000 (US$665,976) in the Inglis August (Late) Auction Aug. 25.

Fasika, who raced in the Tricolours Racing and Syndications colors, will reside at Milburn Creek following a Written Tycoon  cover this season.

"It was always the plan, if we purchased her, to go to Written Tycoon which will give her a great start as a broodmare and will add to the tremendous book he has this year," Hedge said of Fasika.

"I think Two Bays Farm was the underbidder; we purchased a Written Tycoon weanling from them last year that they retained an interest in. It's great to know other good judges were bidding on her," Hedge said. "Obviously with travel restrictions, we were unable to inspect her, so we relied heavily on Inglis who we have a lot of faith and trust in and they were very complimentary on her as a type.

"It was a collective group of resources; Scott Holcombe at Milburn Creek gave us the tick as he is looking after the majority of the mares, then we applied information from ratings experts, feedback from her trainer Joe Pride, and others about their general impressions from seeing her at the races.

"We want to be pragmatic so to be making a purchase of this magnitude, it's extremely helpful to have their counsel and to have things such as professional videos produced by Inglis.

"We watched the 'Fasika Feature' with interest having received it via email. It reminded everyone of not just her best performances, but the style in which she won her races, the horses she defeated, and just emphasized how good she was from her dominant maiden win to her final start.

"I hope she can produce foals as good as she was."

James Moss of Tricolours Racing and Syndications said he and the big ownership group were delighted with the result.

"We couldn't be happier, from the very outset it was about letting the market dictate what she is worth and it's certainly done that," Moss said.

"Inglis Digital did a fantastic job with the marketing campaign and while we'd have loved to have had Fasika in our spring carnival arsenal, we're excited to see her future progeny, in particular her first foal by Written Tycoon."

The Danny O'Brien-trained mare Absolute Flirt (Lot 222), by Stratum , was the second top lot of the August (Late) Online Sale.

Dan Fletcher of Telemon Thoroughbreds went to AU$460,000 ($332,988) to secure the stakes-winning 2-year-old, who was offered in the broodmare category.

Talented race filly Lucicello (Lot 263), by I Am Invincible , was purchased by Allam Racing in conjunction with Kestrel Thoroughbreds for AU$370,000 ($267,838).

The mare was offered as a broodmare by her owners, which included Olly Koolman and Debbie Kepitis.

"What a great result, we're absolutely thrilled," Kepitis said.

"We were anticipating the whole sale process and when today came around we were watching it all afternoon, refreshing the screen all the time, it's enthralling to watch, I just love the whole process.

"It's a great platform, Inglis Digital, super entertaining to watch and to be able to have five days, it gives you great build-up to that final day.

"The last little while was when all the bids came in and we cheered each time another late bid was lodged and bidding extended for another five minutes.

"She was a beautiful horse for us, I mean who doesn't love a gorgeous gray, and we'll be watching her progeny very closely in years to come."

Koolman is still on a high after Funstar's record-breaking AU$2.7 million ($2,016,740) sale on Inglis Digital last month and said Lucicello was another great result for all involved.

"We thought she fell through the cracks at Inglis Easter when we bought her but I tell you what, there doesn't seem to be too many cracks in the Inglis Digital mare market at the moment," Koolman said.

"I might go to the paddock tomorrow to see what else I've got there and get them in the next sale, it's going so well.

"It's just another example of 'you don't have to wait six months to sell a good mare at a live sale in May or June,' you can wait 14 days and put them on Inglis Digital and know you'll get a good result.

"Credit to the buyers too for embracing such a wonderful platform and giving it the respect it deserves."

The August (Late) Sale grossed AU$5,215,350 ($3,775,330) from 239 lots sold and posted a clearance of 82.4%, while seven lots sold for in excess of AU$100,000, bringing the 2021 tally to 62. The average price was AU$21,822 ($15,797) and the median was AU$6,000 ($4,343).

Other standout results from this catalog included Villa Verde 's half sister Freehearted (Lot 247), by Dylan Thomas , who was purchased by Manx Park for AU$165,000 ($119,441), 4-year-old So You Think mare Penso a Lei (Lot 133) was bought by The Racing League for AU$155,000 ($112,203), while Ciaron Maher Racing paid AU$140,000 ($101,344) for their group 3-winning gelding, Thought Of That (Lot 71), also by So You Think, with the horse being offered to disperse a racing partnership.

The next Inglis Digital Sale will be on Sept. 10-15, with entries closing at midnight Sept. 8.