News

A Star is born in Inglis Millennium

5th Feb 2022

The Blue Diamond or the Golden Slipper – that is the question facing trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy following the dominant win of their star filly Xtravagant Star (Xtravagant) in today’s $2m Inglis Millennium at Randwick.

The magnificent filly made a one-act affair of today’s feature, showing a devastating turn of foot to keep her unbeaten record intact from two starts.

She defeated race favourites Paris Dior (2nd) and Sejardan (3rd) in today’s feature and becomes the first filly to win the Millennium following previous victories by colts Castelvecchio, Prime Star and Profiteer.

Xtravagant Star – a sister to Stakes winner He’s Xceptional, himself an Inglis Classic graduate - was bred by Seymour Bloodstock’s Darren Thomas.

She firmed from $101 into $21 for the Slipper off the back of today’s win, and into $10 for the Blue Diamond.

Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy teamed up with Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy at last year’s Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands to purchase Xtravagant Star, who was offered by Newhaven Park Stud, for $150,000.

Today’s result was an emotional one for Newhaven’s John Kelly, who watched the race from Riverside during Classic inspections.

“I haven’t had too many better racing days than this to be totally honest,’’ Kelly said.

“This is such a huge result for so many people. To have Mark Pilkington and Darren Thomas in the ownership of the filly, they have been such a huge supporter of Newhaven Park and of Xtravagant so it’s so amazing for them.

“Tony McEvoy and Damon Gabbedy have been buying out of our drafts for a long, long time and it’s so great they get a result like this, all our staff back home who love what they do and work so hard for results like this, it’s really just a fabulous, fabulous result.

“We can’t wait for the Classic Sale to start now, we’ve got a lovely draft that has been well received this week on inspection days so bring on the next three days at Riverside.’’

There are four progeny of Xtravagant on offer at the Classic Sale - which begins tomorrow at 10am – all of which are in the Newhaven draft.

To view the Classic catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Winning co-trainer Tony McEvoy described today’s Millennium win as “extraordinary’’.

“These are the races you dream of winning, I mean let’s be honest, $2m is a lot of money to be racing for and Inglis does such a fabulous job with their Race Series so to win the feature race with this quality filly, it’s a fantastic thrill,’’ McEvoy said.

“We’ve got some thinking to do with her now. We always knew she was a lovely filly but we were using today’s race to determine if she’s in the A-League or a rung below but she might just be the very best of them, or right up there.

“We’ll decide next whether to go back to Melbourne with her for the Blue Diamond or keep on the Sydney path toward the Slipper. I mean it’s a nice problem to have.

“Firstly though, we’ll get her back to the stable and let her recover and we’ll enjoy a few champagnes, although I’ll probably fall in a heap around 9pm.

“The Classic Sale starts tomorrow at Riverside so we’ll burst in there full of momentum and try and find the next stars of our stable for years to come.’’

McEvoy and his son Calvin also won a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars for today’s result, as the winning trainers of an Inglis Race Series event.

Winning co-owner Mark Pilkington added: “This is such a big thrill. Racing in this country is just so positive on all levels, with the Classic Sale starting tomorrow I think everyone who can should keep an eye on it and get involved in a share of a horse, even if it’s a couple of per cent here and there, it really is the greatest.’’

Earlier in the day, impressive fellow 2YO winners Cythera (I Am Invincible) and Sebonack (Capitalist) put their names in the frame for feature juvenile races in coming weeks with outstanding debut wins.

Cythera firmed onto the fourth line of betting for the G1 Golden Slipper with a determined win in the Listed Lonhro Plate at Randwick.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, the 2YO was not only having her first race start but provided the John Moore-led IRON Syndicate with their first Australian winner from their first runner.

John teamed up with his son George to purchase Cythera for $420,000 at last year’s Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Highgrove Stud.

“She’s such a beautiful filly. Look at her now post-race, she’s just the best sort,’’ Highgrove’s Ron Gilbert said.

“The Snowden’s have been patient with her but have done a fabulous job all the same, the world’s her oyster this filly.’’

There are six progeny of Champion sire I Am Invincible on offer at the upcoming Classic Yearling Sale.

And Sebonack (Capitalist) surged into an $8 second favourite with TAB for the G1 Blue Diamond off the back of a barnstorming victory in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield.

The Hawkes Racing-trained 2YO is a $260,000 Easter Sale buy for his owners Spendthrift, who purchased the colt from the Sledmere Stud draft.

The Chairman’s Stakes has been a great race for Inglis graduates who have progressed to bigger things on and off the track in recent years, with Sebonack joining the likes of Extreme Choice, Loving Gaby, Mildred and Formality as recent Inglis-sold winners of the race.