The 2026 Inglis Digital season began in spectacular fashion, with the well-related mare Sliders, accompanied by her I Am Invincible colt foal, selling for a remarkable $400,000. The sale, held online, highlighted the growing influence of digital platforms in the Australian thoroughbred market.
Purchased by Melbourne-based breeder Ben Kwok, Sliders now has a bright future, with Kwok revealing plans to send her to the Darley stallion Too Darn Hot. “I’m hoping he returns to Australia this year and I can get her to him, but if not, I’ll find another good stallion,” he said. Kwok also plans to retain the colt for racing, ensuring the family’s pedigree continues on the track.
Kwok praised the ease and efficiency of Inglis Digital, which he describes as “the best online place to buy, especially mares. Everyone at Inglis is so friendly and provide the best service.”
Coolmore’s Brian McGuire echoed the sentiment, highlighting the strength of the mare’s bloodline. “Sliders is from an outstanding family, and her I Am Invincible colt foal is a lovely type, so she deserved to make that sort of money,” McGuire said. He added that the promotional video and personal inspection by Inglis CEO Sebastian Hutch helped generate significant interest in the lot, demonstrating why Inglis Digital has become such a trusted platform for breeders and buyers alike.
The sale’s second-top performer was the 3YO Portofino (I Am Invincible), offered by Newgate Farm and purchased for $105,000 by Luke Berger of Tamworth. Berger, a former trainer, plans to send Portofino to Mudgee-based trainer Mack Griffith, noting the strategic approach of placing well-bred horses with trainers who have strong strike rates in less competitive jurisdictions.
“The Inglis Digital platform is the most reliable,” Berger said. “We’ve had success before, including a hometown Cup win with a horse bought off Inglis Digital just last month.”
The January sale grossed $3,391,400, setting a strong precedent for the year ahead. Entries are now open for the Inglis Digital February (Early) Online Sale, running from January 30 to February 4. Among the confirmed lots is a breeding right in first-season stallion sensation Anamoe, a nine-time Group 1 winner whose first crop of yearlings recently averaged $469,000 at the Gold Coast, producing a rare seven-figure yearling.
Darley’s Alastair Pulford said of Anamoe, “The way the market has accepted his first progeny has been unbelievable. He really could be the next big thing, and his progeny certainly look the part.”
Entries for the February (Early) Sale close at midnight, Wednesday, January 28.
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