Bought for $70,000  by Esker Lodge’s Darren Dance on Inglis Digital platform in a boutique one-horse auction

Esker Lodge’s Darren Dance secured a 49 per cent share in six-year-old gelding Never Again (High Chaparral) for $70,000, via the Inglis Digital platform, in a boutique one-horse auction.

Clinton McDonald Racing offered the chance to buy into the son of High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) who has won seven times from 27 starts and was last seen taking out the Chester Manifold Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington on January 9. Never Again is entered for the John Dillon Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Caulfield on Australia Day and will then target the Shaftesbury Avenue (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington. 

“I’ve had a few clients waiting for me to buy a city class horse for them and this horse seemed perfect because it’s so rare that you can buy an in-form last-start Stakes winner who you know is headed to more Stakes races in coming days and weeks,’’ Dance said.

“The High Chaparrals get better with age so this horse seems very exciting and provides a wonderful opportunity to have a runner in some better races in the early autumn and after that, who knows.

“I love the Inglis Digital platform, it’s so easy, I buy and sell off it and it’s just such a great model to use as a buyer or seller.’’

McDonald believes Dance has made a smart investment by buying into Never Again.

“Darren is a great syndicator who brings people into racing and now they will have a runner in what’s looking like a winnable Stakes race on Tuesday and there’s surely no better way to get into a horse than that,’’ the trainer said.

“Inglis have been terrific with this sale, their advertising and marketing of the share has been fantastic, everybody knew about it and it was just so easy for me – I just told them I had a share of a horse to sell and everything else was done for me.

“It’s the way of the future, these Inglis online sales, when owners and trainers have horses or parts of horses they need to sell down, these past couple of days have shown how easy it is with Inglis to get the job done.’’