Durham Park snaps up Slumber Party
Durham Park’s Bruce Edward is hoping his first ever thoroughbred purchase in yesterday’s Inglis Digital January Online Sale is the beginning of a long and fruitful journey.
Edward secured the sale topper Slumber Party (Snitzel) – in foal to Coolmore’s shuttle sire sensation Justify (Scat Daddy) – for $255,000.
While long associated with horses, Edwards has been a “keen breeder’’ of standardbreds for many years but has now decided he wanted to try his luck with the thoroughbred.
“Why? I have a few friends involved who really enjoy it and I’m basically a breeder anyway, just not with thoroughbreds until now. I’ve never really been interested in buying yearlings, so I thought buying some mares might be the best way in,’’ Edward said.
“We’ll foal the youngster down on the farm later this year and decide after that whether I retain it or sell it as a yearling, but the plan is to buy a few more mares now too.
“I’ve been looking at these Inglis online sales for maybe the past six months but each time I’ve tried to buy one I’ve been blown out of the water, they can get quite expensive the nice mares, so while today was expensive I was really excited to win the final bid.
“This whole journey will be a learning experience but it’s been a great start, the Inglis Digital website is absolutely sensational, so easy, so efficient, so quick, it was great.’’
Yesterday’s second-top lot was the Oakland Park Stud-offered Perth mare Ihts Closing Inn (Sessions), which sold to Ferras Bloodstock for $215,000.
The third-top lot in the January Online Sale was Group 1 performer Military Expert (Redoute’s Choice).
Offered by TFI, the five-year-old – who finished third in the Toorak Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) – sold to Cameron Bennett’s Flying Start Syndications for $140,000 and will be trained by Annabel Neasham.
In total, the January Online Sale grossed $3,653,502. Entries are now open for the February (Early) Sale and will remain so until midnight next Wednesday, January 31. The sale will run from February 2-7. To enter a lot click here.