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Debutant Rosberg leads the way on big day for Inglis graduates

6th Sep 2025

Feature 3YO spring races like the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and G1 Thousand Guineas loom for some of today’s Stakes-winning Inglis graduates as a trio of stars won features at Moonee Valley.

None were more impressive than debutant Rosberg (Deep Field), which came from near last to score a spectacular victory in the Listed McKenzie Stakes.

The 3YO colt was taking on some early season peers with big raps on them but despite a tough run in transit, proved the superior sprinter at his first race start.

Trainer Clinton McDonald paid $750,000 for Rosberg (pictured) at last year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale, where he was offered by Shane McGrath Bloodstock.

McGrath had pinhooked the colt, having initially purchased him for $260,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Newgate Farm on behalf of his breeders SF Bloodstock and Blake Sandblom.

Such was the dominance of the victory, McDonald couldn’t help but compare Rosberg to Weekend Hussler, the seven-time G1 winner trained by his father Ross in the mid-to-late 2000s.

“You should never compare but he does special things like Weekend Hussler used to do. It’s special. It’s big money that we paid for him but the owners are going to be rewarded in spades,’’ McDonald, who trained Angel Capital to victory in the same race 12 months earlier, said.

“He’s a really good colt this, I’ve said it all the way through. To have this horse is something special, he’s done a great job there.

“Shane is the best in the business. Since he’s come into my life we’ve had great success, we’re buying lovely horses and this year we bought well again.’’

McGrath praised McDonald in return for how he prepared Rosberg ahead of today’s debut assignment, which franked the trainer’s opinion of the colt.

“I’ve got a great association with Clinton and this horse is a credit to him and a testament to the stable and the confidence they’ve had in him since the day he came into the yard,’’ McGrath said.

“Fair play to Clinton, he’s put his heart on the line with this horse and he’s been vindicated here with his opinion.

“The race didn’t unfold the way we thought it would but Jamie [Melham] gave him a lovely ride, gave him his time to balance up and just the way he hit the line, you’ve got to look forward toward the spring with so much enthusiasm. He’s a beautiful colt.’’

Rosberg will likely next race in the G2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on October 4 before his main spring target, the stallion-making G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes down the Flemington straight on Derby Day.

While Rosberg was successful in the McKenzie for the 3YO colts and geldings, Alpha Sofie (Capitalist) was also ultra impressive in winning the 3YO fillies’ equivalent, the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes.

Alpha Sofie was having her first start for new trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman today, having previously been under the tutelage of Queensland horseman Jason Edwards, who had trained her to two victories from three starts.

Today’s win was a valuable first Stakes success and sets her on a G1 Thousand Guineas path later this spring.

Bred by Dan and Linda Alford and Mary Anne Holland, Alpha Sofie is a $150,000 Classic Yearling Sale buy for Tosh Murphy’s Munetos, from the Davali Thoroughbreds draft.

The Alfords were involved in the ownership of Alpha Sofie’s sire Capitalist and were thrilled with today’s result.

“This is the first foal we’ve bred out of a mare by Capitalist and to watch a mare that we own and a stallion that we raced, it’s a super day,’’ Dan Alford said.

“And we own the mare still, it’s fantastic. Thanks to Tosh Murphy, he bought the horse and allowed us to stay in and it’s been a big buzz.’’

Winning co-trainer Coleman added: “She’s a filly that’s done really well in her first couple of starts in Queensland and the Edwards stables did a fantastic job with her and sent her down to us in brilliant order so really all credit goes to them because we’ve only had her a short time.

“We’d been really pleased with the work she’d done with us but to see her come here and do it today, it takes it to another level.

“She’s a really lovely filly, naturally very athletic…we’ll look towards the [Thousand] Guineas Prelude if she does well after today.’’

Also at Moonee Valley, talented 4YO entire Angel Capital (Harry Angel), signalled his readiness for G1 spring targets with an effortless first-up victory in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes.

In doing so, the David Peacock-bred 4YO led in an Inglis graduates quinella, defeating Compelling Truth.

Now a winner of five of his eight career starts, Angel Capital is trained by Chris Waller and raced by Yulong, who bought the entire off the initial ownership group featuring Upper Bloodstock and Gregory Ho, who together purchased the horse from the Mill Park Stud draft for $400,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale.

And in New Zealand today Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) earned black type at just his second career start when winning the Listed Colin Meads Trophy at Ellerslie.

The 3YO was secured by Odyssey Bloodstock for $40,000 at the 2023 Australian Weanling Sale, where he was offered by his breeders Marquee Stud.