Yard to the Post @ Inglis Millennium Day
Race Day: Warwick Farm on Saturday, 09 February 2019
With so much happening in racing it wouldn't have been surprising if the inaugural Inglis Millennium Day didn't create much interest. The Darren Weir saga, Group One racing in Melbourne, The Championships on the horizon and recent Magic Millions all in the minds of punters, who are now offered up a calendar of racing stacked with big events.
Thankfully that wasn't the case though, a big crowd filled the Warwick Farm lawn and the main race delivered, locally-trained CASTELVECCHIO storming down the outside to beat favourites ACCESSION and DAWN PASSAGE. The $2 million Inglis Millennium by far the biggest of young trainer Richard Litt's career who said the two-year-old son of Dundeel had even more improvement to come. It's likely he heads to the Skyline next before any Golden Slipper decisions are made.
In the other Inglis race, the 1,100 metre $1 million Inglis Sprint for three-year-olds, we were treated to an exciting finish between classy fillies FIESTA and ESTIJAAB, Waller's filly getting the better of last year's Golden Slipper winner in the closing stages with a big gap back to 3rd.
And there were two group races on the card too. CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES took out the Group 3 Breeders Classic, fighting to the line to just edge out Victorian COOL PASSION, and three-year-old GEM SONG quickened best in the wet conditions to beat roughie PURPLE SECTOR in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes, the disappointing $1.80 favourite SANDBAR floundering in the wet in fourth.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | HEAVY 8 to SOFT 6 |
| Weather | FINE, some showers |
| Bias | OFF RAILS |
Race 1 DARLEY LONHRO PLATE
Godolphin's two-year-old army gets stronger
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bivouac | James Cummings | Blake Shinn | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Cosmic Force | Peter & Paul Snowden | Hugh Bowman | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Steel Diamond | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 5 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
All looked OK in the yard, STEEL DIAMOND on debut strong with some improvement to come perhaps.
In The Running
ESCAPED took up the running with SYLVIA'S MEMORY on the inside and TIME TO REIGN out wide no cover. STEEL DIAMOND lacked a bit of early pace and was last. An honest STRONG tempo set up.
The Result
BIVOUAC (1st) pulled out from a midfield spot and pounced, beating home COSMIC FORCE (2nd 1L) who found the line well with STEEL DIAMOND (3rd 1.2L). Favourite TIME TO REIGN (4th 2L) just behind.
The Interest
Testing conditions, a three wide run and step up to 1100m proved to be too much for TIME TO REIGN who will struggled to compete in a Golden Slipper based on this run. BIVOUAC very well ridden, COSMIC FORCE with some excuses (held up slightly, laid in as Bowman tried to come wider) and STEEL DIAMOND was good given she's got improvement to come and may not have loved the soft track.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
A big win for this country boy
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noble Boy | Theresa Bateup | Hugh Bowman | 6 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Acquittal | Danny Williams | Tom Marquand | 8 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Sausedge | Matthew Dale | Jay Ford | 9 | 53.0 |
In The Running
Quiet a strange race in the run, a packed field rolling at a STRONG tempo, NOBLE BOY getting a trial 5W with cover just a couple of lengths off the speed. The leaders five wide across the trail were TULLY TOFF rails, ZARDORO 2W, PRINCE PLANET 3W, EXAGGERATE 4W and ACQUITTAL out 5W.
The Result
NOBLE BOY (1st) went to the lead and surged clear from a brave ACQUITTAL (2nd 2L). SAUSEDGE (3rd 3.3L) was held up slightly on the turn, came wider and chased home. ALTERNATIVE FACTS (5th 5.6L) ran on late after being held up.
The Interest
NOBLE BOY got the right run and he produced a very strong run. Don't knock ACQUITTAL though, who was well-backed and fought very hard after giving the favourite the perfect trail out wide on the track. They are both big chances for the country champs.
Race 3 DAVALI THOROUGHBREDS CUP
Godolphin gets the quinella in a blanket finish
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Badajoz | James Cummings | Tommy Berry | 4 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Malahat | Aleacia Bennett | Ms Rachel King | 9 | 52.0 | |
| 3 | Akasaki | Stephen Jones | Jason Collett | 5 | 55.0 |
In The Running
SUPER TOO led at a STRONG tempo. SINGLE BULLET out wide no cover in midfield.
The Result
BADAJOZ (1st) fought on best from midfield to narrowly beat stable-mate MALAHAT (2nd 0.2L). AKASAKI (3rd 0.4L) right in the finish after getting held up.
The Interest
AKASAKI probably unlucky not to win this, a blanket finish and the form out of the race might be weak given the winner wasn't in flying form leading up to the race. SINGLE BULLET (4th 1.9L) wide and needs a cushy run to win. SHE KNOWS (5th 2.1L) down on the inside in the lesser ground. SUPER TOO (8th 24.5L) knocked up very quickly.
Race 4 AQUIS FARM ESKIMO PRINCE STAKES
A contender for The Autumn Sun emerges
fair tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gem Song | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 1 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Purple Sector | John Thompson | Tom Marquand | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Charge | David Payne | Hugh Bowman | 5 | 58.5 |
In The Running
MASTER ASH led at a FAIR tempo, SANDBAR travelling well on his outside and CHARGE keen three wide no cover.
The Result
GEM SONG (1st) surged home up the inside from the box seat to beat PURPLE SECTOR (2nd 0.4L) swooping out wide. CHARGE (3rd 0.7L) and SANDBAR (4th 0.9L) crossed the line together.
The Interest
GEM SONG with a nice strong win up the inside (lesser ground) and PURPLE SECTOR with a big return, GEM SONG now onto the 3YO features to take on The Autumn Sun. SANDBAR was cruising at the 300m, but probably wants a firmer track than this.
Race 5 INGLIS SPRINT - 3YOS
Class rises to the top in the Inglis sprint
fair tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiesta | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 6 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Estijaab | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Brenton Avdulla | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Mizzy | Anthony Cummings | Tommy Berry | 17 | 54.0 |
In The Running
ESTIJAAB took up the running and set a FAIR tempo, MIZZY wide with no cover on the speed and FIESTA tracking up wider on the turn.
The Result
FIESTA (1st) knuckled down and ran down ESTIJAAB (2nd 0.8L), who fought on well. A gap back to MIZZY (3rd 3.1L) and COTERIE (4th 3.6L).
The Interest
The two best-performed horses in in the race put on a great show, FIESTA only just too strong for the Slipper winner ESTIJAAB, who returned for the first time since a 2YO. MIZZY ran well for the flying Anthony Cummings stable and the rest were simply out-classed.
Race 6 YARRAMAN PARK BREEDERS CLASSIC
One tough little mare sticks her neck out
fair tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Champagne Cuddles | Bjorn Baker | Blake Shinn | 4 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Cool Passion | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Tommy Berry | 2 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Alassio | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 8 | 54.0 |
In The Running
COOL PASSION led at a FAIR tempo with ALASSIO on her outside and CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES with the nice trail behind. EGYPTIAN SYMBOL a touch wide at the back.
The Result
CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES (1st) ran down a brave COOL PASSION (2nd 0.2L), who kept fighting hard. ALASSIO (3rd 1.7L) held on from EGYPTIAN SYMBOL (4th 2.1L).
The Interest
The top two ran really well here, COOL PASSION not giving up and CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES getting the job done first time at her home track after being given a beautiful run by Blake Shinn. No love lost for ALASSIO or EGYPTIAN SYMBOL either. SLOW BURN (8th 6.6L) was poor, pulled up with a slow recovery and is off to the spelling paddock.
Race 7 INGLIS MILLENNIUM - 2YOS
A new star for a young local trainer
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castelvecchio | Richard Litt | Joshua Parr | 13 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Accession | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 14 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Dawn Passage | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Blake Shinn | 7 | 56.5 |
In The Running
ESPAANIYAH rolled along at a STRONG tempo. ACCESSION wide with cover midfield, DAWN PASSAGE in the pack and CASTELVECCHIO out the back in last.
The Result
CASTELVECCHIO (1st) swept over the top and surged clear from ACCESSION (2nd 2L), who had hit the lead. DAWN PASSAGE (3rd 2.8L) ran on well after getting held up.
The Interest
The top three here are all good horses and Dundeel colt CASTELVECCHIO seems a real 1400m+ type in the making for young local trainer Richard Litt. PRETTY BRAZEN (5th 4.4L) not too bad for a horse that probably didn't get around the turn that well and seems better at 1000m to 1100m for now.
Race 8 BOWNESS STUD MILE
Rachel King times it to perfection
fair tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samadoubt | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 12 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | New Universe | Chris Waller | Corey Brown | 2 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Gresham | Chris Waller | Robbie Dolan | 1 | 53.0 |
In The Running
SAMADOUBT got out in the lead and rolled clear, getting a 4L break, Rachek King timing things perfectly with a FAIR tempo set up.
The Result
SAMADOUBT (1st) held on from NEW UNIVERSE (2nd 1L) running on well. GRESHAM (3rd 4,3L) and RODRICO (4th 4.5L) a few lengths behind.
The Interest
SAMADOUBT was beaten by NEW UNIVERSE comfortably on a GOOD RANDWICK when the tempo was STEADY over 1600m, but this time the conditions were more in his favour, a very good aggressive ride from Rachel King. NEW UNIVERSE going very well and TANGLED (7th 7L) very flat second-up after drifting in the market late.
Race 9 TAB HANDICAP
The money comes and the big boy delivers
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cisco Bay | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Robbie Dolan | 7 | 52.5 | |
| 2 | Animalia | Matthew Dale | Jason Collett | 12 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Looks Like Elvis | Jarrod Austin | Sam Weatherley | 13 | 59.0 |
In The Running
RAPIDO CHAPARRO rolled in the lead at a STRONG tempo.
The Result
CISCO BAY (1st) sustained a good run from midfield to win, beating the other swoopers ANIMALIA (2nd 1L) and LOOKS LIKE ELVIS (3rd 1.2L).
The Interest
CISCO BAY was heavily-backed, coming through a strong form race first-up when the conditions didn't suit, he was too strong here today with the light weight off a STRONG tempo. On-pacers LOVE SHACK BABY (5th 3.4L), HONEY ESPRIT (6th 3.9L) and RAPIDO CHAPARRO (7th 4.1L) simply went too hard. ZIDANE (8th 6.1L) didn't seem to get going and was checked at a key moment.