Maher Trainees Top Inglis Digital Australia March Sale

A pair of progressive Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-olds spearheaded the March 11 Inglis Digital Australia March (Early) Online Sale. The unraced Zousain (AUS) gelding Holding Captive topped the auction, selling for AU$310,000 (US$223,200, AU$1=US$0.72). Holding Captive was a AU$280,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Maher and David Redvers and has trialed once for a comprehensive victory at Caulfield Racecourse a fortnight ago. Several of the ownership group wanted to capitalize and sell their shares so it was decided to offer Holding Captive via Inglis Digital, but Maher wasn't prepared to let the gelding go, securing him online. "Basically a few owners wanted to cash out of him, which is fine, but Ciaron still has great belief in the horse so to appease everyone, he was put online on Inglis Digital and this is the fairest outcome possible,'' Maher's head of bloodstock Will Bourne said. "He's won a trial nicely and he'll head to the races next Wednesday and he's a horse we have a really good opinion of.'' The undefeated The Real Mahjong was the sale's second-top lot, realizing AU$115,000 to the bid of Wan Bloodstock. He will continue his career in Hong Kong. On The Real Mahjong, Bourne added: "He's 2-from-2 and the ownership group decided to capitalize on that record and sell him. "They bought another horse at Inglis Premier last week and we wish the new owners all the best with him.'' In total the March (Early) Sale grossed AU$2,507,300 (US$1,805,256).