News

Griffiths Tackles First Group 1

12th Mar 2016

In a brilliant day of racing across the country, Inglis graduates were responsible for charging to victory in stakes races at every level, winning a Group 1, a Group 3 and a Listed race at Flemington, and a Group 2 race at Rosehill, with several providing valuable updates to their siblings' pedigrees ahead of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Emotions ran high this afternoon at Flemington as The Quarterback (Street Boss x Soorena) delivered leading trainer Robbie Griffiths his first Group 1 win, coming from last to take out the $1.25 million VRC Newmarket Handicap.

The Quarterback extended the dominant record of Inglis graduates in the Newmarket Handicap. Of the last ten Newmarket winners to be offered at auction, eight of them were sold by Inglis including Brazen Beau, Black Caviar, Wanted, Weekend Hussler, Takeover Target, Alinghi and Exceed And Excel.

Griffiths was quick to credit his friends Peter Ford and Rick Jamieson and their contribution to his victory.

“Peter Ford bought the horse with me; I'd just got out of hospital when we bought him as a yearling,” said Griffiths, who also explained that Jamieson was responsible for breeding his charge.

It is the second win for a Jamieson-bred Inglis graduate in the Newmarket in five years, following Black Caviar’s dominant victory in 2011. Ford was also a contributor to that win having purchased the Champion’s dam Helsinge as an unraced three-year-old daughter of Group 2 winner Scandinavia, on behalf of Jamieson from the Inglis Broodmare Sale in 2005.

“Of all horses to do it for the stable, it's just sensational” Griffiths said.

Jockey Craig Newitt took advantage of a clearing run up the rail at the 300m mark where the gelding showed a classy turn of foot to hit the line strongly. Having won his third Newmarket, Newitt was ecstatic for the trainer saying “If ever there was a bloke who deserved a Group One, it is Robbie Griffiths. I couldn't be happier.”

A $120,000 purchase from the Makybe Stud draft at the 2012 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, The Quarterback took his earnings past $1.2 million for owners Mr C W Pearce, Mr R Griffiths, Mr D M Lester, Mr P E Miall, Miller Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Dr J A Schuijers, Mr A M Lamshed and Lucky Lammy.

The five-year-old will now be aimed towards the TJ Smith Stakes on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick.

Other stakes-winning Inglis graduates today were Hattori Hanzo, Felicienne and Tried and Tired.

Hattori Hanzo (Sebring x Steal My Love) took out the Group 2 ATC Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill over 1500m, becoming the 19th stakes winner for his sire. The now three-year-old was a $185,000 purchase by Dermot Farrington from the Widden Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, and took his earnings past $150,000 in three wins from six starts under the guidance of trainer Mick Kent. Widden will offer a half-brother by Your Song at the 2016 Easter Yearling Sale next month as Lot 571.

Felicienne (Al Maher x Nena Candida) won the Group 3 VRC Schweppervescence Trophy at Flemington over 1600m. The Darren Weir-trained mare has now won just shy of $200,000 for her connections, nearly four times her $50,000 reserve when offered from Edinglassie Stud at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Edinglassie will offer a half-sister by Hinchinbrook as Lot 529 at Easter, now related to two stakes winners in addition to Dylanson.

Tried And Tired (Niello x Yawn) showed he is anything but today at Flemington, bounding in to win the Listed VRC My Kitchen Rules Stakes over 1400m. The gelding has rewarded trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and connections handsomely on his $1,700 purchase price from the Chatswood Stud draft at the Great Southern Weanling Sale.

Already a dual-Group 1 winner, Preferment added further strength to the pedigree of Inglis Easter Lot 198, his half-brother by Rip Van Winkle which will be offered by Windsor Park Stud.

The 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale will be held on 5, 6 and 7 April at Inglis Newmarket. To request a hard copy catalogue please email catalogue@inglis.com.au or call Inglis Sydney on +61 2 9399 7999. The catalogue is also available for viewing online HERE or download it on the Inglis Sales iPad App.