Ninja share sale values Everest-bound sprinter at $5.5 million

A one per cent share in Everest-bound Ninja has sold for $55,000 in Inglis Digital’s October (Early) Online Sale, implying a $5.5 million value for the Michael Freedman-trained sprinter.

The fractional interest changed hands ahead of the $20 million Group 1 The Everest, giving the online auction a result tied to one of the spring’s leading sprint races.

The one per cent interest was offered as lot 153, 10 days before the feature race at Randwick, and was snapped up by David Blumberg.

Ninja, a four-year-old by Farnan, has won five of his 10 starts, including the Group 2 Missile Stakes, Group 2 Hobartville Stakes and Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate.

He will represent John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds slot, with My Racehorse involved in the arrangement. Camilleri bred the gelding and retained a share in him.

Blumberg, a Glenugie-based owner who has held horses or shares for 15 years, told the auction house:

“I’ve been following Ninja for a while and was interested in this share before the barrier trial win, I’d actually bid before the trial and then when he came out and beat Ka Ying Rising hard held, I knew I was going to have to increase my budget because I really wanted him.”

Blumberg also said Ninja could head to the Golden Eagle after the Everest.

Vendor Gary Diamond said: “Even though it’s a lot of money for a 1% share in a gelding, in a way the final price doesn’t surprise me at the same time because a lot of people want a share in a G1 horse, the Everest is becoming the most popular race in Australia and it’s a small percentage so it’s more affordable.”

Chris Waller-trained Defensemen topped the sale overall, with Coolmore selling him to We Bloodstock for $200,000.

We Bloodstock’s first Inglis Digital purchase will spell in Australia before a decision on whether to send him to Hong Kong to race, its spokesperson said.

Bogey Free sold to Eclipse Holdings for $190,000, while ML Thoroughbreds’ Jo Borg bought a five per cent share in Cherry Bomshell for $60,000.

In total the October (Early) Sale grossed $2,178,050.