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Inglis Classic Prospects Impress at Flemington

5th Sep 2009

Led by unbeaten filly Black Caviar, Inglis graduates dominated at today's feature Makybe Diva Stakes meeting at Flemington, winning five of the first six races, including three at stakes level.

And a number of them are likely to feature in upcoming three-year-old Classic contests.

Despite sprawling at the start, BLACK CAVIAR ($210,000 2008 Premier, 3f Bel Esprit-Helsinge) was able to pick herself up and maintain her unbeaten record in taking out the G3 Danehill Stakes.

Trainer Peter Moody is keeping his options open with Black Caviar, who was offered for sale by Swettenham Stud as agent. Potential targets next time out include the G1 Manikato Stakes or G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes - both against the older horses.

She is then likely to contest the G1 Thousand Guineas, for which she remains a very warm favourite.

The race was a triumph for Moody, as the other eye-catching run came from his new acquisition WANTED ($800,000 2008 Easter, 3c Fastnet Rock-Fragmentation), who charged home for second to put himself right in the frame for next month's G1 Caulfield Guineas.

CARRARA ($200,000 2008 Premier, 3c Elvstroem-Crystal Sprite) may not have attracted the same hype as some of his rivals yet, but the Tony Vasil trained colt continues to put the score on the board.

Burdened with 59kg today, the Little Plains Stud graduate made light of the big impost and proved too good - his third win at black type level - in the Listed Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes.

He is now the winner of four races in seven starts and is among the top six in betting for the Caulfield Guineas.

Another horse that looks capable of measuring up to top three-year-old company is IRISH LIGHTS ($230,000 2008 Easter, 3f Fastnet Rock-Aspen Falls).

The David Hayes trained filly lived up to the promise she showed when running second on debut to Rostova last autumn.

The style of her win in the Sofitel Girls Day Out (1100m), when running down the highly rated Avenue, suggests she is a filly likely to make her presence felt in stakes grade in the near future.

CATS WHISKER ($250,000 2007 Easter, 4m Fusaichi Pegasus-Perfect Halo) featured in Classic races last season and she is now living right up to the potential she showed last spring, when Group 1 placed in the Thousand Guineas.

The Mark Kavanagh trained mare followed up her G3 Cockram Stakes win last month by sitting on the speed to land the G2 Let's Elope Stakes, her fifth win in 11 starts.

Like Irish Lights, Cats Whisker is a graduate of the Coolmore Stud Easter draft.

Completing the Inglis Flemington set was CAPE D'AMORE ($20,000 2006 Premier, 5h Cape Cross-Fawaakeh), who fought on strongly to win over 2000m. His modest purchase price has now turned into more than $200,000 in earnings.