News

Crockett Raises The Bar In Inglis Challenge

13th May 2016

Young trainer Cameron Crockett recorded the most significant victory of his career to date when Barbass took out the $100,000 Inglis Challenge over 1100m at Scone Race Club.

Today saw the 17th annual running of contest, which is restricted to two-year-olds that were purchased from the Inglis HTBA Scone Yearling Sale and nominated into the Inglis Race Series.

Barbass (Benfica x Misasio) was the most affordable horse to line up today having been purchased for $4,000, but took his earnings past $65,000 with victory in the lucrative two-year-old race.

In an impressive performance, the gelding sat three-wide until the 100m mark where he hit the lead and strode clear to win by a length for Mudgee-based Crockett.

“It’s unbelievable! I’ve been saying for a while I think he’s the best I’ve had,” said Crockett.

"It’s been 12 months in the making since the Scone Yearling Sale, and of course everyone is there buying horses for this race but he was only bought for $4,000 so I don’t think anyone thought they’d see him here!” Crockett said. 

Jockey Blake Shinn credited the performance saying “Although he was wide he’s a big-striding horse, so it suited him to have some galloping room. He got to the top of the straight and quickened really well, and he put them to the sword. He’s improving all the time.”

On top of the great prizemoney the winning owner Des Kennedy and jockey Blake Shinn received a gift from Inglis Race Series sponsor Antler Luggage valued at $544 each, while Cameron Crockett was presented a pair of premium Swarovski Optiks valued at $3,000.

Barbass was purchased from the Guntawang Stud draft at the 2015 HTBA Scone Yearling Sale. He is the third winner from three foals to race out of Strategic mare Misasio, who is carrying a full sibling to today's winner.

The 2016 sale will be held at White Park, Scone this Sunday 15 May. The sale includes one yearling by Barbass' sire Benfica, Lot 199 from Murrulla Stud.

The first of 206 lots to be sold will step into the auction ring at 10:30am. The catalogue can be viewed online at inglis.com.au and on the Inglis Sales iPad App.

All yearlings offered across Inglis’ Select Yearling Sale series in 206 is eligible for entry to the lucrative $5 million Inglis Race Series, for which nominations close on 31 July. CLICK HERE to download the nomination form.