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First timers strike in $250,000 Inglis Classic

19th Jan 2013

A strong field contested the $250,000 Inglis Classic over 1200m at Rosehill on Saturday and it was debutant Marseille Roulette that took the spoils for a first time owner in the valuable event.

Marseille Roulette ($62,000 2012 Classic, 2c Zizou-Eclectus) was given a great education by his leading trainer Gai Waterhouse heading into the race and that solid grounding paid big dividends with the speedster dashing clear in the straight before holding off the late challenge of the favourite Fuerza, with Group 3 winner Direct Charge back in third.

Celebrations had to be put on hold as a protest was fired in by the connections of the second placed horse, but stewards deemed that Marseille Roulette was more than two lengths clear when he shifted out late in the race, so the protest was dismissed.

“Gai said be aggressive with him today as he was a bit laid back in his trial. He switched on very well but the good part about him was his turn of foot,” said winning jockey Tommy Berry.

“He let down really well, but he saw a few stars coming to the 150m. As soon as that other horse came up he found another gear,” Berry added.

Bred by Stuart Ramsey and offered through his Turangga Farm draft at last year’s Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale, Marseille Roulette was purchased by first time owner T Sekiguchi for $62,000. The colt was then given to Gai Waterhouse to prepare.

“Very rarely do two-year-olds win starting over 1200m, but I have worked very hard on this two-year-old. He’s a colt that needs a firm hand,” Waterhouse said.

Marseille Roulette joins a distinguished list of horses to win the Inglis Classic, including Laurie’s Lottery, Choisir, Chance Bye, Pane In The Glass and Cavalry Rose.

The $250,000 Listed race is restricted to horses offered at the Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale.

This year’s Classic Sale has been split into two books, a Summer Book which will be conducted at Newmarket over the coming two days, Sunday 20 and Monday 21 January, and a Winter Book on 23 June.

Turangga Farm, the source of Marseille Roulette, will offer a strong draft of 13 yearlings during the impending Summer Book, including four by Zizou.

The 467 lot Summer Book of the 2013 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale will be broadcast on Inglis Sale Day live, with Online Bidding and Make-An-Offer available for those buyers unable to attend the Newmarket complex over the next two days.

Regular updates direct from the sale ring will also be posted via @Inglis_Sales on Twitter and photos will be made available on Inglis’ Facebook page InglisBloodstock