News

Express Start to International Week for Inglis

8th Dec 2009

Inglis graduates will be heavily represented at Sunday’s prestigious Hong Kong Jockey Club International meeting and emerging three-year-old Legend Express got the week off to a perfect start for the company with his Sha Tin win on Sunday.

LEGEND EXPRESS ($300,000 Easter 2008, 3g Encosta De Lago-Burst) was purchased by the HKJC from the Coolmore Stud draft at Easter last year, before being re-offered at the club’s Hong Kong International Sale.

The son of Marauding’s 1992 Golden Slipper winner Burst is the veteran of just six starts and has now won both Challenge races for graduates of last year’s International Sale following his win in the December Challenge over 1400m on Sunday. He had previously won the May Challenge over 1200m, earlier in the year.

The HKJC will hold their annual sale this week and for the first time, two Melbourne Premier Sale graduates – colts by Testa Rossa and Anabaa – will be offered.

Inglis graduates will then take centre stage on Sunday, with leading chances in both the International Sprint (1200m) and Mile (1600m).

HAPPY ZERO ($425,000 Easter) has captured the imagination of the Hong Kong public and comes off a brilliant win in the G2 Sprint Trial (1200m) last month. Rather than keep the gelding at the sprint trip, trainer John Moore has opted to step him up to the 1600m of the G1 International Mile on the recommendation of jockey Darren Beadman.

Happy Zero, winner of seven races from eight starts, will be joined in the Mile by $3.7million earner RACING TO WIN ($40,000 Easter), who steps onto the international stage for the very first time.

The John O’Shea trained gelding has won 13 races, including five Group 1 events.

Happy Zero and Racing To Win will be attempting to join 2003 hero Lucky Owners as an Easter graduate to win the G1 International Mile.

Inglis is also looking to extend its domination of the Group 1 International Sprint, with three leading chances heading into this year’s renewal.

Inglis is the only sales company to have sold winners of the Hong Kong International Sprint.

The run started 10 years ago with Danehill’s Champion son FAIRY KING PRAWN ($170,000 Easter) taking the inaugural running of the event.

He was followed by dual winner SILENT WITNESS ($55,000 Classic) in 2003 and 2004 before SACRED KINGDOM ($200,000 Premier) and INSPIRATION ($420,000 Easter) took out the event in the past two years.

Sacred Kingdom and Inspiration (pictured) will be joined in Sunday’s race by ALL SILENT ($250,000 Easter), who is unbeaten this season and comes off a scintillating win in the G1 Patinack Farm Classic, where he unwound astonishing closing sectionals.