News

Inglis 2YOs make clean sweep of Blue Diamond Previews

26th Jan 2024

A pair of exciting Inglis-sold 2YOs stole the limelight at Caulfield today with a clean sweep of the feature Blue Diamond Previews.

Easter colt High Octane (Deep Field) scored a decisive debut win in the Listed Preview for colts and geldings while Hayasugi (Royal Meeting) proved too strong in the fillies division at G3 level.

High Octane was enormous today, racing greenly at times yet still showing his extreme talent to register an “exceptional’’ victory.

High Octane (pictured) is the most expensive Deep Field yearling ever sold, selling for $1,050,000 at last year’s Easter Sale to the bid of the China Horse Club, Newgate Farm, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing partnership.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trainee was offered by his breeder Segenhoe Stud.

“From the day he was born he was a standout, he’s just special and that was an exceptional win,’’ Segenhoe’s Peter O’Brien said.

“When we took him to Easter he was extremely popular and so should he have been because he was just such a magnificent yearling at the sale.

“I’m particularly delighted for Henry Field and the partnership, that’s a lot of money for them to spend on a yearling and one would think now he’s going to be a short-priced favourite for the [Group 1] Blue Diamond next month.’’

Segenhoe will offer High Octane’s Zoustar half brother (ex Granny Red Shoes) at this year’s Easter Sale as lot 51.

“The Zoustar, I would say, is a better moving horse with a similar frame, beautiful quality, a big strong animal,’’ O’Brien said.

“We’re very excited – bring on Easter!’’

To view the Easter catalogue CLICK HERE.

Field was somewhat subdued pre-race about High Octane’s chances today – given he was coming off just the one barrier trial – but he needn’t have worried, as the colt came from midfield to score a powerful win.

“He’s a horse we’re really excited about but given he’d only had the one soft trial we thought he might be a bit underdone but if he was to be a live contender for the Blue Diamond we needed to give him two runs in, so for him to win today was a great thrill and probably an added bonus,’’ Field said.

“Peter and Paul [Snowden] are very high on the horse and that’s always a positive when they think they’ve got a good one.

“He was a colt we saw at Easter last year and I’ve never seen a Deep Field look so much like his sire, he’s the closest resemblance to Deep Field shape-wise, it was extraordinary.

“It’s been well documented the stallion has been retired from service now and we’re immensely hopeful that High Octane might be his heir apparent.

"High Octane is the most expensive yearling we’ve raced as a partnership so it’s certainly heading in the right direction.’’

In the Blue Diamond fillies division Hayasugi became the fourth consecutive Inglis graduate to prove successful in the race – and third in a row for leading agent James Bester – with a tough come-from-behind win.

Hayasugi defeated Tobeornottobe in another Stakes quinella for Inglis graduates.

Bester teamed up with Shane McGrath and Cara Mok to purchase Hayasugi from the Fairhill Farm draft at the 2022 Australian Weanling Sale at Riverside.

Her win comes after fellow Bester purchases De Sonic Boom (2023) and Miss Roseiano (2022) while Inglis Classic star Dosh was successful in 2021.

“I guess you could call that a three-peat,’’ a delighted Bester said.

“When we saw her at the Inglis weanling sale, like anything, athleticism trumps all. She just walked out like an athlete, she looked precocious, she looked like she was fast, she was just an athletic mover with a good hind quarter, really in quite the same model of the other fillies De Sonic Boom and Miss Roseiano, they all had very similar attributes.’’

McGrath agreed, described Hayasugi as “a lovely filly’’ at Riverside.

“We wanted to buy a nice filly to have some fun with and race and we’re certainly doing that so far with her,’’ McGrath said.

“She could stay here for the [Blue Diamond] Prelude next or she could come up to Sydney for the Inglis Millennium. The $2m on offer is definitely tempting.’’

Fairhill’s Mike O’Donnell, who co-bred the filly with Austramore, added: “The mare [China Road] has left some bloody nice fillies and this one is probably the best, she’s a quality filly this.

“All my weanlings will be going to the Inglis sale again this year in May, around 30 of them, and there’s some beautiful types in there, it will be the best draft – both pedigree and type-wise – that we’ve ever presented.’’

The Australian Weanling Sale will be held at Riverside on May 6 and 7.

Also at Caulfield today Brave Mead (Brave Smash) returned with a comprehensive front-running win in the G3 Manfred Stakes.

His trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace purchased the Australian Bloodstock-raced 3YO off Inglis Digital for $90,000 – he’s now won almost $650,000 in prizemoney.

There are five Brave Smash yearlings catalogued for the upcoming Classic Yearling Sale, to be held at Riverside on February 11-13.

To view the Classic catalogue CLICK HERE.

Brave Mead’s win continued the stellar success of Inglis Digital graduates, who won one in four Australian races last year.

Entries for the February (Early) Sale are now open and will remain so until midnight on Wednesday.

To enter CLCK HERE.