News

Communist wins G1 as Inglis graduates dominate across Australia and NZ

4th Mar 2023

The G1 Randwick Guineas win of tough 3YO Communist (Russian Revolution) today was the highlight on a day that saw Inglis graduates win eight Stakes races across Australia and New Zealand.

While Communist was the headline act:

*2YO fillies Learning To Fly and Princess Duhallow both won black type races, with the former remaining a $4 TAB favourite for the G1 Golden Slipper in a fortnight

*Passive Aggressive returned to racing in breathtaking fashion, beating some of the best sprinters in training first-up in the G2 Challenge Stakes on her way to the G1 Galaxy at Rosehill in two weeks

*3YO filly Dashing Legend and 4YO mares Thalassophile and Jal Lei all earned valuable first Stakes successes with strong wins

*Legarto’s win in the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington was timely for Inglis Digital, which is offering a share in her stallion Proisir – one of the most progressive young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere - in the March (Early) Online Sale which is now open for bidding

*Artorius’s win in the G1 Canterbury Stakes provided a huge pedigree update for the Easter Yearling Sale, with Vinery Stud set to offer his Deep Field half brother at Riverside in April

*Electric Girl finished third in the G1 Canterbury Stakes and she will be offered in the Chairman’s Sale at Riverside in May.

The win of Communist (pictured) today was a significant result for China Horse Club especially.

Not only do they share ownership in the 3YO but they also bred him, they purchased and raced his stallion Russian Revolution and they purchased and raced his dam Cappadocia.

“It’s outstanding. It’s very rewarding to have bred him, stayed in him and raced him, raced the stallion, the dam, it’s the culmination of a long term plan,’’ China Horse Club’s Michael Smith said.

“We’ve sent more mares to Russian [Revolution] than anybody in the past four or five years, we really backed him completely as a stallion and it’s so satisfying to see him get G1 winners like this.

“Communist couldn’t have won more impressively today. He’ll either step up in trip and go to the Rosehill Guineas next in a fortnight or stick to the mile and run as a genuine lightweight chance in the Doncaster.’’

Communist’s trainer Michael Freedman teamed up with his brother Richard to buy Communist for $160,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Sledmere Stud.

Communist today defeated a strong field that included fellow Classic Yearling Sale graduate Zou Tiger who finished third.

In a timely pedigree update, Vinery will offer Communist’s brother as lot 315 at the Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands, which begins at 10am tomorrow.

The Russian Revolution x Cappadocia colt will be offered for sale on Monday.

“He’s a lovely colt, been really popular here with buyers all week so we can’t wait to get him into the ring on Monday, it’s fantastic timing,’’ Vinery’s Adam White said.

To view the Premier catalogue CLICK HERE.

Communist’s win was one of many Stakes success for Inglis graduates at Randwick today.

Outstanding 2YO Learning To Fly (Justify) kept her unbeaten record intact and remains a $4 Golden Slipper favourite following a tenacious win in the G2 Reisling Stakes.

The victory made it three from three for the star filly of her crop, following a debut success in the G3 Widden Stakes and a stirring win in the $2m Inglis Millennium.

Learning To Fly – a $900,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Kia Ora Stud from the Coolmore draft - defeated Facile today in an Inglis graduates Group quinella.

The Annabel Neasham-trained 2YO has now earned $1.47m in prizemoney.

Bon Ho has another serious prospect on his hands with talented 3YO Dashing Legend (Snitzel), a dominant winner of the Listed Fireball Stakes.

Dashing Legend has raced 10 times and has been in the top three on nine occasions, including four wins.

The filly is now a Stakes winner and very valuable commodity for Mr Ho and trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes.

Mr Ho bought Dashing Legend for $380,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Arrowfield Stud.

She will now likely target the $1m Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships.

Untapped 4YO Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) made it five wins from six starts with a first-up victory in the G2 Challenge Stakes.

Trained by Grahame Begg at Cranbourne, Passive Aggressive returned in outstanding fashion today, announcing herself a player in all the feature autumn sprints with a memorable win.

Raced by Jonathan Munz, Passive Aggressive is a $500,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Dean Hawthorne from Cressfield.

And 4YO mares Thalassophile (Not A Single Doubt) and Jal Lei (Sebring) both scored valuable first black type victories in the G3 Aspiration Quality and G3 Wenona Girl Quality respectively.

Both mares are graduates of the 2020 Easter Yearling Sale – Chris Waller’s Thalassophile from the Newgate Farm draft and John O’Shea’s Jal Lei from the Segenhoe Draft, from which she was purchased by Vinery Stud for $180,000.

At Flemington today – 12 months after purchasing a filly for $160,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale - Lindsay Park’s Ben and JD Hayes were rewarded with a Stakes victory with that now 2YO who races as Princess Duhallow.

At just her third career start, Princess Duhallow (Shalaa) secured valuable black type with a comfortable win in the Listed Furphy Trophy.

The filly was offered at Premier by Supreme Thoroughbreds and becomes the second Stakes winner from their 2022 Premier draft with De Sonic Boom winning the G3 Blue Diamond Preview in January.

Supreme has a draft of 21 yearlings for this year’s sale, which begins tomorrow at Oaklands at 10am.

Meanwhile in New Zealand today, The Intimidator (Toronado) scored a first Stakes success when winning the Listed Mufhasa Stakes at Te Rapa.

The 3YO, trained by Andrew Forsman, is building an imposing record, with today’s win his third from just seven starts, with three minor placings.

The Intimidator is a $37,500 buy for Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley from the 2020 Great Southern Weanling Sale, which was held online due to Covid.

The Intimidator was offered by Ballarto Lodge at Great Southern.