News

A Variety Of Inglis Graduates Step Up Again

1st Feb 2014

From two-year-old brilliance in Melbourne to a tenacious middle-distance performance in Singapore, Inglis graduates got off to an auspicious start to the Year of The Horse with a trio of stakes wins on Saturday.

Nayeli (More Than Ready x Wasimah) stamped herself as a filly to be reckoned with heading into the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes following an impressive victory in the Gr.3 MRC Chairman’s Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield.

The undefeated filly’s victory topped a big 24 hours for Inglis graduates in two-year-old events following the wins of Japhils (Moonee Valley), Unequivocal (Rosehill Gardens) and Ygritte (Kembla Grange) from Friday night onwards.

Owner Greg Kolivos, who raced champion juvenile Pierro, was rapt with the performance of Nayeli.

“She’s handled Caulfield really well which can bring so many youngsters undone. It is a vintage Blue Diamond, but you have got to be here and you have to be in it, which we are with a really nice filly” said Kolivos.

Corumbene Stud, the breeders of More Than Ready’s champion son Sebring, offered Nayeli at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Gai Waterhouse / James Harron Bloodstock for $260,000.

Nayeli is the 123rd stakes winner for More Than Ready which will be represented by 41 yearlings at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April.

Winning jockey Vlad Duric believes Nayeli will be up to ears in the upcoming Blue Diamond saying “she conserves her energy and when you push her button she has a great turn of foot and she is strong. She ticks all the boxes and is definitely in the Blue Diamond mix.”

Shamal Wind (Dubawi x Firemaid) then flew into contention for the Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate with a fast finishing victory in the Listed MRC W.J. Adams Stakes over 1000m.

A $55,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing from Widden Stud at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Shamal Wind came from well back to win the Caulfield dash in a slick 56.95 seconds.

Jockey Ryan Maloney was simply blow away with Shamal Wind’s closing sectionals – “I can't remember the last time one let go on me like that, she just toyed with them. It was really impressive,” said Maloney.

Trainer Robert Smerdon added “The Oakleigh Plate is the race we are after now and on today’s effort you’d have to think she’s a chance.”

The flying four-year-old has now amassed nearly $400,000 in prizemoney thanks to five wins and four placings in 14 starts.

Shamal Wind’s half-brother by Stratum is set to be offered by Widden Stud as Lot 7 at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Arrowfield Stud’s colt by Starcraft from Ain’t Seen Nothin’ that will be offered as Lot 299 at Easter also received a pedigree update on Saturday when his half-brother Stepitup won the Gr.3 Fortune Bowl in Singapore.

Stepitup (Hussonet x Ain’t Seen Nothin’) was having his first try at 2000m and although given top weight of 58kgs the tenacious four-year-old came away with the spoils in the S$200,000 event.

Regular jockey Ivaldo Santana thought the S$980,000 earner had broken down when clipped at the 500m mark but Stepitup showed his characteristic fight to pick himself up and dash away to another victory.

“I am very lucky to be the jockey of such a horse. He’s the best horse I’ve ridden in my career – just on his big heart,” said Santana.

A $90,000 purchase from Bellerive Stud’s draft at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Stepitup has built an incredible record in Singapore with nine wins, including five at Group level, from 1000m to 2000m from just 12 starts.

The 2000m Group 1 Singapore Derby, a race won by fellow Inglis graduate Better Life last year, is now the primary aim for Stepitup in 2014.

This year’s edition of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, the sales source of Shamal Wind and Stepitup, will be conducted on 2, 3, 4 & 5 March 2014 at Oaklands.

The Melbourne Premier and Australian Easter Yearling Sale catalogues, which will again offer high-class yearlings by a variety of proven and exciting young sires from various female lines, are available on both the market leading Inglis Sales iPad App and online at www.inglis.com.au