The Melbourne Cup dream will become a reality for five new owners when Vauban lines up at Flemington Racecourse in Tuesday’s $10 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup, following a successful inaugural Inglis Digital Spring Carnival Online Sale that concluded on Wednesday.
The sale offered five shares in Vauban, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, comprising three 2.5% shares and two 1% shares. All five shares found different buyers, giving each purchaser the opportunity to experience their first runner in Australia’s most famous staying race.
Greg Maitland secured one of the 2.5% shares for $10,000, fulfilling a long-held ambition despite having entered the racing industry relatively recently. Although he would not attend Flemington on Tuesday, the Adelaide-based pub owner expressed his excitement at having a runner in the prestigious race.
Maitland’s interest in racing had grown through his friendship with Terry Board, an experienced participant in the industry. He had also become involved with Rosberg, winner of the Inglis Easter and Inglis Ready2Race Stakes, trained by Clinton McDonald.
The opportunity to acquire a share in Vauban held particular significance for Maitland because Melbourne Cup Day had always been an important occasion for his pubs. He planned to attend a function for 400 people at one of his Adelaide venues, with Vauban’s participation adding another dimension to the occasion.
Brisbane-based Steve Rielly also secured a long-awaited opportunity after purchasing a 1% share in Vauban for $7,000. Although he had previously had horses entered for the Melbourne Cup, he had never had a runner in the race.
Rielly had already experienced major Australian racing occasions through runners in the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, but the Melbourne Cup remained an ambition he had yet to fulfil.
He discovered the share sale through an advertisement on Australian Bloodstock’s social media channels. Having previously purchased horses through Inglis Digital, Rielly welcomed the opportunity to join Vauban’s ownership group through the online platform shortly before the race.
Melbourne Cup Dream Highlights Successful Inglis Digital Sale
The inaugural Spring Carnival Online Sale also featured a 2.5% share in Brindavan, a five-year-old trained by Tony Gollan. Offered by First Light Racing, the share sold for $17,000.
Brindavan was scheduled to make his next start in the $2 million Group 3 Five Diamonds at Rosehill on November 7, extending the sale’s reach beyond the Melbourne Cup.
Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth welcomed the results of the inaugural sale, highlighting the opportunity it created for five buyers to have their first Melbourne Cup runner.
Melmeth said the initiative demonstrated how the Inglis Digital platform could connect sellers with interested buyers ahead of major racing occasions, allowing participants to become involved at short notice. He also expressed confidence in the concept’s potential to grow in future years with continued vendor support.
Inglis Digital’s November Early Online Sale was scheduled to run from Friday, October 30, until Wednesday, November 4. Entries were due to close at midnight on October 28.
Early entries included an eight-horse Godolphin draft, Yellowjacket, a mare placed in the I Am Invincible Stakes, shares in recent Group 1 placegetter Welcometotheshow and multiple Group winner Warnie, along with a stallion share in Wild Ruler.
The Melbourne Cup dream became a reality for five new owners after all five shares in Vauban sold through the inaugural Inglis Digital Spring Carnival Online Sale, creating a first Melbourne Cup opportunity for each buyer.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.