Kosgei, a three-year-old identified as a stayer on the rise after finishing fourth in the Victoria Derby, has been sold to Hong Kong via a record online sale.
After failing to reach a reserve of $800,000 during the latest Inglis Digital auction, Kosgei was sold for $750,000 and will race for prominent Hong Kong owner Daniel Yeung.
A half-brother by The Autumn Sun to the 2016 ATC Australian Derby winner Tavago, Kosgei will head to the Asian racing hub as the highest-priced colt or gelding sold on an Australasian online auction platform.
He has been earmarked as a Hong Kong Derby candidate for trainer Michael Chang.
Kosgei raced five times for co-trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, winning on debut at Bendigo in August before finishing third in the Geelong Classic when extended to a middle distance for the first time.
Sent out one of the outsiders in the Victoria Derby, Kosgei came from 12th in the middle stages to finish 3-1/2 lengths from the winner Riff Rocket in one of the eye-catching runs of the race.
Kosgei was offered for sale by Kevin Payne, a successful Victorian owner who raced Hitotsu as a two-year-old before privately selling a chunk of the subsequent three-time Group I winner to high-profile clients of the Ciaron Maher-David Eustace stable.
“I haven’t met a vendor yet who didn’t think their horse was worth more, but I’m pleased with the outcome,” Payne said.
Hong Kong-based bloodstock agent Willie Leung described Kosgei as a perfect horse for Hong Kong racing.
“Kosgei is obviously a top-class racehorse with a lovely pedigree and being a son of The Autumn Sun, he looks to have a nice profile to develop into a Hong Kong Derby prospect,” Leung said.
“He will travel to Hong Kong in the next shipment and be given some time to acclimatise before starting his race career there.”