Funstar will join half-sister Youngstar at Northern Farm in Japan after selling to Katsumi Yoshida for a Digital Sale world record price of AUS$2.7 million (US$2,016,740) in the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Auction.
Northern Farm, who bought Youngstar for AUS$1.4 million (US$909,437) at last year's Inglis Chairman's Sale, was one of eight different bidders over the $1-million mark for the G1-winning daughter of Adelaide.
In realizing AUS$2.7 million, Funstar also becomes the highest priced mare to be sold 'under the hammer' at public auction in 2021.
“I am so thrilled that we were able to purchase a beautiful mare,” Yoshida said.
“We have her (half) sister Youngstar and also have mares related to the granddam User Friendly.
“We are looking forward to seeing their progenies winning in Japan.”
Funstar's managing owner Olly Koolman – who discovered the filly at the 2018 Easter Yearling Sale where he purchased her for AUS$80,000 (US$62,096) – was lost for superlatives at the result.
“I'm absolutely stunned. It's hard to fathom just how much of an amazing result this is,'' Koolman said.
“She was a fabulous race filly and mare and we had a lot of fun with her but never in our wildest dreams did we expect she would sell for $2.7 million in any sale, let alone a digital sale.
“I cannot speak highly enough of the Inglis Digital team, they worked their absolute butts off to promote this mare to buyers around the world and as an ownership group, I can't speak highly enough of the Inglis team and what they have done to create a scenario where we get to reap the rewards of this result.
“We've been glued to our computers since mid-afternoon, we opened a bottle of champagne at AUS$1.3 million to celebrate, so it's incredible to be sitting here now with her having made AUS$2.7 million.
“We wish Northern Farm all the best with her, we thank all the underbidders and we can't wait to sit back and see her progeny running in years to come.''
“We are beyond excited by tonight's result, especially the Funstar sale,” Inglis Digital Manager Nick Melmeth said.
“It's not only a significant milestone for Inglis Digital but for the bloodstock industry worldwide.
“To have Inglis Digital break a world record, to have Northern Farm pay $2.7 million for Funstar without even seeing her, just demonstrates the unbelievable confidence in our platform.
“But there is immense satisfaction from the whole Inglis team about many of the results, aside from the high-profile top lots.
“For example, Missed The Alarm (Rip Van Winkle) made more than 10 times her reserve and stallion Native Soldier (Sepoy) sold to Wermer Stud in Denmark.
“That just shows the reach of Inglis Digital. From modest results to world records in just four years of operation.”
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