Darby Racing goes back to Digital source for more success

Syndicator Darby Racing will be hoping to continue its good fortune with talented tried horses after buying two six-figure lots on Inglis Digital on Wednesday.

Scott Darby paid $310,000 for Capitalist four-year-old Amazing Eagle, who was owned by retired Hong Kong trainer John Moore and Tony Fung Investments and trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, as well as $105,000 for Justify gelding Gatekeeper.

Gatekeeper, a four-year-old, won his only start in January while Amazing Eagle won last year’s Listed Brian Crowley at Randwick. He ran fifth first-up from a long spell at Rosehill on October 11.

Darby’s tried horse success includes former Coolmore-owned and Waller-trained Caballus, who has proven to be a consistent sprinter for the syndicator and trainer Bjorn Baker since transferring stables in late 2023. Caballus ran fifth first-up in Saturday’s $2 million Sydney Stakes. Darby has also won races with Robusto and Imperial Force with Digital tried horses.

“It’s been absolute gold,’’ Darby said.

“I’m actually sitting here doing the video promotion now and we call it ‘Inglis Digital gold. Even Bjorn has grabbed 10 per cent of Amazing Eagle, that shows how much he likes him. We’ll look to race him next week or the week after in Sydney and hopefully get an immediate return for owners.

“We think he’ll improve off his first-up run and while he’s an entire, we’ll try and take him through his grades and then line up in a Group 1 in the autumn all going well.’’

The second highest-priced lot sold on the Inglis Digital (Late) October Sale was Emirate who burst onto the scene by winning his only two starts as a two-year-old but has failed to live up to the hype as a colt as a three and four-year-old. He was purchased by ARPL Racing for $265,000.

Chris Waller’s right-hand man Charlie Duckworth paid $255,000 for Frankel colt Sarapo, who was unplaced in the Gloaming Stakes 11 days ago, ensuring the three-year-old will remain in the leading Sydney trainer’s stable.