Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
The Ingham - $2 million up for grabs
It's a big pay day for one set of lucky connections on Saturday with the running of the G2 Ingham at Randwick into its third year; a rebranded version of The Villiers which goes way back into the 1890s.
Four last start stakes winners make this a competitive race with the well-related Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) favourite to make it three in a row on the back of dominant victories in feature contests at his last two outings.
Both times he did a good job from wide draws, well ridden by Tommy Berry who is once again aboard.
Gringotts (NZ), the current favourite for the G2 The Ingham at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Gringotts was born in 2019 when the career of his close relation Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) was in full swing and it is a cross working well; he being by a son of Street Cry out of a granddaughter of that champ's grandam Vegas Magic (Voodoo Rhythm {USA}).
Private Eye (Al Maher) was back in stunning winning form in the G3 Festival S. last time out and looks a top chance make it two in a row. Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) returns from a successful sojourn to Perth taking out the G1 Railway S. whilst New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) was tough winning the G3 Eclipse S. on Heavy going.
Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) has been racing in fine form of late and is due another win whilst Encap (Capitalist) was not far away behind Gringotts in The Gong.
Gallery: Some of the other high-class runners in The Ingham
Grand Prix S. - a Classic lead-up
An 1800-metre race for the 3-year-olds, the G3 Grand Prix S. at Eagle Farm has some rather nice horses on its honour roll, won by the likes of Balmerino (NZ) and his relation Surround (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}) as well as by the great Kingston Town (Bletchingly).
In the last couple of decades it has been taken out by the subsequent Group 1 winners Hawkspur (Purrealist), Sirmione (Encosta De Lago), Brambles (NZ) (Savabeel), Ice Chariot (Semipalatinsk {USA}), Distinctly Secret (NZ) (Distinctly North {USA}) and Half Hennessy.
Several of those horses enjoyed their moment in the Group 1 sun winning the G1 Queensland Derby, back when this race was run as a May lead-up to that race. Since its move in 2020 it has twice been won by horses who have gone on to enjoy Classics the following year; Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).
Gallery: Horses that won the G3 Grand Prix S. and excelled in the classics the following year
Favourite to take the prize this year is the lightly raced and promising Moon Sweeper (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) who has looked good winning two of his first three starts for the Matthew Dunn stable. He has the services of Damien Thornton who won this race last year aboard Encoder (Encryption).
Apuntar (The Mission) led Moon Sweeper last time out and tried hard finishing second. He is as honest as the come, finishing first or second at each of his last four starts. Sun Worshipper (Sun City) was good to the line when third in the same race, the City To Surf at Doomben.
Squeezebox (Epaulette) also boasts a consistent record with James Cummings seeking his first win in a race won by his grandfather with Sirmione 17 years ago. Chris Waller meanwhile has won this race five times, most recently with Kovalica two years ago and he saddles up Bluepinot (Blue Point {Ire}) who comes off an easy Doomben maiden victory on Heavy going.
Moon Sweeper, the current favourite for the G3 Grand Prix S. at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Group racing at Te Rapa - the Isuzu S., the J Swap Sprint and the Waikato Cup
It's a strong card at Te Rapa on Saturday with the first of the program's three Group races being the G2 Isuzu S., a 1600-metre weight-for-age contest for fillies and mares.
It is a race which has been won by the same horse only twice, a feat being contested by last year's winner Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) who remains in good form at the age of seven.
Campionessa (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
She is one of the main fancies, but she does face stiff competition in the shape of Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who has been in flying form winning her last two including the G1 Livamol Classic in which she did a great job from a tricky outside gate.
A Group 3 race over 1400 metres, the G3 J Swap Sprint sees four horses open at single-figure odds. Favourite is Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) who has built a good record winning four of 12 whilst also strongly fancied are Witz End (NZ) (Savabeel) who can be forgiven his latest unplaced run after working early and Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) who found trouble in running when resuming.
The only last start winner in the race is What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) who is up in class but coming along well.
Gallery: Some of the horses at single-figure odds, images courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
The G3 Waikato Cup, a 2400-metre contest with a history going back to the early 1900s, is an even race this year. So much so that seven of a field of 13 have opened up at single-figure odds.
Early favourite is The Odyssey (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) who keeps racing well whilst Canheroc (NZ) (El Roca) and Enright (NZ) (Power {GB}) also boast consistent recent records.
Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking) struck severe interference in the G3 Counties Cup and is capable of bouncing back whilst Testify Me (NZ) (Atlante) charged home late in the Listed Wanganui Cup. Outovstock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was good despite racing a touch keenly last time out and Blue Sky At Night (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) comes off a tough win at Pukekohe Park.
The Odyssey (NZ), the current favourite for the G3 Waikato Cup at Te Rapa | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
R. Listed Inglis Nursery - a future Group 1 star?
This race for Inglis graduates may be a young race but it already boasts an excellent record, won by the subsequent Group 1 winners She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain), Extreme Choice and Wild Ruler.
Five of this year's 15 contestants have already raced, two of those coming off debut victories; the favourite Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) who won another Inglis feature at Flemington on Champions Day and Gobi Desert (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who took out the Max Lees Classic at Newcastle in mid-November.
Gallery: Two of the runners in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery coming off debut victories
Lucky Vega is one of the four first-season sires represented in the race, the other runners by up-and-comers being Telling (Graff) who comes off a Newcastle maiden debut third, Cobra Club (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) who has been in the placings in two Randwick trials and Farset (Farnan) who was only just beaten in a Canterbury trial.
Gobi Desert and Farset are the most expensive horses in the line-up; the former a $600,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale graduate whilst the latter made his way through the ring on two occasions, fetching $180,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale and $400,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
There are trial winners amongst the first starters, Imaginate (Written Tycoon) at Traralgon for Lindsay Park, Deep Affection (Street Boss {USA}) for John Thompson, Cantiamo (Too Darn Hot {GB}) for Kris Lees and Artistic Venture (Trapeze Artist) for John O'Shea and Tom Charlton.
Gallery: Some of the runners by first-season sires, images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
O'Shea has already won the race on two occasions, with Irish Bet (Smart Missile) in 2017 and Saltaire (Star Turn) two years ago.
Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic - plenty of good jump-out form
There is further sales company 2-year-old action at Caulfield, an 1100-metre event that used to be run on Ballarat Cup Day.
None of the 10 runners have won a race as yet with three having already faced the starter including the favourite Bacash (Cosmic Force) who was wide when fifth in Listed company at debut, improving into a G3 Maribyrnong Plate second on Melbourne Cup Day.
Bombay Boom (Spirit Of Boom) is one of the others to have raced, in the market at Rosehill late last month only to strike rain affected going.
Boombay Boom | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Gold Decree (Farnan) and Wise Inlaw (Wootton Bassett {GB}) are the runners by first-season sires, the former a two-time Cranbourne jump-out winner whilst the latter has been unplaced in a Pakenham jump-out and a Traralgon trial but not asked for much.
Valle Di Luce (Castelvecchio), Invincible Woman (I Am Invincible), Zouclaire (Zousain) and Raison D'rose (Blue Point {Ire}) all have jump-out victories to their name.
Having been unplaced at debut, Maldini (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is the outsider of the field, but he has the distinction of being the most expensive of the runners; sold for $500,000 at the Magic Millions.
Listed Gold Edition Plate - a young race with a good history
First run as a Listed event in 2010, this 1200-metre 3-year-old contest has on 10 occasions been taken out by horses who have gone on to enjoy further stakes success.
Seven-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) is amongst that tally as are Into The Red (Not A Single Doubt), Sold For Song (Collate), Zoustyle (Zoustar), Isotope (Deep Field), Whypeeo (I Am Invincible), Winning Rupert, Sizzling, Biggles (Jet Spur), Adebisi (Shovhog) and last year's winner Abounding (Rich Enuff).
The unbeaten Scripted (Written By) has opened favourite on the back of her two smart performances at Lismore and Doomben whilst also well-fancied is Kahlisee (Dracarys) who made the pace when second in the Listed Mode S. a couple of weeks ago.
Gallery: The most well-fancied runners in the Listed Gold Edition Plate, images courtesy of Trackside Photography
Another Hellbent in Hella Fast is two from two, both at Eagle Farm whilst She Ours (Merchant Navy) was a tough third in the Mode.
Socrazyinlove (I Am Invincible) was not far away when fourth in that race and the descendant of the great Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) is the most expensive of these runners; topping last year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale at $1.1 million.
