News

Icon claims the top prize

29th Oct 2016

Outstanding stallion More Than Ready produced his second consecutive Derby winner in Australia this year when Prized Icon raced away with today’s Victoria Derby at Flemington.

Bred and raced by Gooree Stud’s Eduardo Cojuangco and his daughter Monica Cummings, Prized Icon showed a dazzling turn of foot toward the end of the gruelling 2500m journey to defeat race favourite Sacred Elixir and Inference.

More Than Ready also produced the Queensland Derby winner in Eagle Way in June, and Prized Icon’s victory gave the stallion his 19th Group 1 winner.

Both horses were offered at the same Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2015.

Today’s result made James Cummings a fourth-generation trainer to train a Victoria Derby winner following great grandfather Jim with Comic Court in 1948, grandfather Bart with five Derby wins and his dad Anthony who won the race with Fiveandahalfstar in 2012.

Prized Icon became the third Inglis graduate to win the Victoria Derby in the past five years behind Polanski (2013) and Fiveandahalfstar.

“The miles and miles of Cummings training have kicked in and he’s kicked away to win a Derby nicely and convincingly,’’ James Cummings said.

“To win staying races like this, horses just love to be in their own comfort zone, their own space and today was chalk and cheese from this horse of what we saw last week where he got none of that.’’

Prized Icon (More Than Ready x Tropical Affair) failed to meet his $250,000 reserve at the 2015 Inglis Easter Sale.

Meanwhile owner Matthew Sandblom celebrated his first Group 1 winner in his own right when I Am A Star won the $500,000 Myer Classic.

Sandblom is no stranger to racing circles and has enjoyed success at the top level in shared ownership arrangements previously, but said today’s Myer victory was “simply the best’’.

“It’s what dreams are made of,’’ he said.

“I’d had a few placings but to win my first outright Group 1, it’s been a long journey to get to this point.

“This is the best. I’m with Newgate who got beaten with Extreme Choice and Russian Revolution in the Coolmore but this, this is an amazing thrill.’’

I Am A Star (I Am Invincible x Star Band) was bought by James Harron Bloodstock for $40,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Broadwater Thoroughbreds.

Today’s win was her fourth from nine starts and took her career earnings to $633,950.

And Wakeful Stakes winner Tiamo Grace will take on fellow Inglis graduate Yankee Rose in Thursday’s Group 1 Victorian Oaks following her dominant win in today’s lead-up at Flemington.

Tiamo grace (Monaco Consul x Sicile) added a black-type win to her resume at only her fifth career start.

She was a $50,000 buy for Darren Weir Racing and John Foote Bloodstock at last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the Hillside Thoroughbreds draft.

She was sold as Lot 751 in the final hour of the sale, providing further evidence there is no time-restraint on when quality horses enter the sale ring.

GROUP 1 WINNERS

PRIZED ICON
More Than Ready x Tropical Affair
Sale: 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale
Price: PI$250,000
Vendor: Widden Stud
Breeder: Gooree Park Stud
Group 1 win: Victoria Derby
Trainer: James Cummings
Owners: Gooree Stud (EM Cojuangco & MC Cummings)

I AM A STAR
I Am Invincible x Star Band
Sale: 2015 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale
Price: $40,000
Vendor: Broadwater Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Eales Racing
Group 1 win: Myer Classic
Trainer: Shane Nichols
Owners: MB Sandblom