The Inglis Ready2Race sale involves monumental effort from not only Inglis themselves to put together the sale and attract the right audience for this sale but also from vendors, agents and people who prepare horses for sale.

 

Everest Diaries speaks to the Arthus Inglis, Deputy Chairman of the Inglis group about his ambitions and the sizeable effort required, bringing this sale together perhaps more so than for their famous Easter Yearling Sale.

 

Q: What is your vision for this sale?

A: This is a well anticipated sale. I would like to see this sale become the preferred Ready2Race sale for the Southern Hemisphere. Given our current growth trends and plans, we hope to double it within 5 years.

 

Q: Where do you see your next-generation of customers coming from?

A: We have always had a lot of support from Asia. We see our export market broadening. Infact even today we have people on planes, distributing breeze-up videos and meeting new clients across Australia and Asia.

 

Q: Why was the Ready2Race sale positioned at this time of the year?

A: It’s a convenient time of the year. Most Australia-New Zealand based auction houses have their sales around a similar time. It takes a lot of effort to prepare these horses for sale. Furthermore, we have a very long and intense marketing campaign. Our customers come from all around.

 

Q: Is it a selective sale? If yes, how do you source your vendors in order to maintain the high quality of horses required for this sale?

A: Yes, we serve our customers and we consider only those horses which merit attendance. As a quick look through the catalogue will prove we are all about quality horses. We have tremendous support from our customers and we have to justify that support.

 

Our team puts in a lot of effort and preparation in order to source for this sale format.  During our yearling sales, many buyers who would like to resell their horses make their intentions known to us. Others we have become familiar with over the years. And still others approach us directly once we start marketing for the sale, because they have suitable horses.

 

Q: Do you see the under-35’s demographic group purchasing more horses from this sale in the future?

A: It is not so much about the age as it is perhaps about the situation. The Ready2Race sale appeals to successful business men and families who love the social aspect of racing, who wish to make an immediate purchase. They don’t want to wait until the yearling sale season.

 

It also appeals to people who are new to racehorse ownership. They would like to start-off their journeys with a more mature horse, whose journey to the racecourse is faster. Sometimes buying a yearling can become a complex decision for the uninitiated.

Another group we are hoping to develop is the local Asian community in Australia.

 

Q: Do you think this sale attract buyers for more proven sires or for first crops of proven race horses?

A: The first season sires are yet to be proven have unlimited potential and can be very exciting for certain types of people, whereas others prefer to go for horses of a certain pedigree. People also have choices when it comes to size of horse and other physical attributes. So it genuinely depends on the personal beliefs and choices of individuals.

 

Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com