Lightly raced Inglis Digital sale-topper Patonga Hong Kong bound

Coolmore colt Patonga has topped the Inglis Digital December (Early) Online Sale, with the promising three-year-old snapped up by Hong Kong interests for $255,000.

Trained by Chris Waller, the Written Tycoon three-year-old was offered by Coolmore’s colts syndicate and purchased by the Jolly Time Syndicate. He will continue his career in Hong Kong after winning once and placing once from just three starts.

“Patonga is yet another talented young horse with considerable upside that we have offered through Inglis Digital,’’ Coolmore’s racing manager John Kennedy said.

“We wish his new owners the very best of luck with him and we hope he can emulate the likes of Imperial Force, Caballus and Zarastro as former success stories for Coolmore’s Inglis Digital offerings.’’

A spokesperson for the Jolly Time Syndicate said: “This is for the syndicate permit in Hong Kong and we look forward to seeing how he settles into Hong Kong, although we haven’t decided on a trainer yet.”

The second-highest price of the day came for four-year-old mare Celestial Bling, who sold for $220,000 to Nocab Racing and Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds. Offered by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott on behalf of her owners, the Capitalist mare will head to Newgate Farm to be covered for the first time next season.

“At this stage we’re looking at Extreme Choice or Farnan for her first cover but we’ve got plenty of time up our sleeve to make that decision,’’ Nocab Racing’s Steve Bacon said.

The December (Early) Online Sale grossed $2,884,600.