News

Inglis Classic Thriller to Zizou Colt

20th Jan 2013

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 19 January 2013

The $250,000 Inglis Classic at Rosehill on Saturday attracted a big field of talented babies with victory going to the Gai Waterhouse trained Marseilles Roulette (pictured), who provided his young sire Zizou with his first Australian stakes-winner.

A Randwick barrier trial winner on January 4, Marseille Roulette was making his race debut in the rich juvenile event and showed real brilliance for Tommy Berry to lead throughout from an outside gate.

He jumped brilliantly to take control from the outset and despite wobbling out over the final furlong, had enough left to hold off a late challenge from Fuerza to win the 1200 metre dash by half a head.

A subsequent protest from the runner-up was dismissed, leaving Marseilles Roulette a stakes-winner and his Japanese based owner Mr Sekiguchi with a first prize cheque of $174,500.

"I loved the way he pinged out and went straight to the lead,” said Gai Waterhouse.

"He skipped away from them and then held off the late challenge.”

A $62,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the draft of Turangga Farm, Marseille Roulette is the second and final foal of Pins mare Eclectus (NZ), who died in 2011.

His ill-fated dam was a grand-daughter of Group III winner Starcent and came from the family of Group winners Strike the Stars, Sportsman, Prisoner of Love, etc.

Marseille Roulette is the second stakes-winner for former top juvenile colt Zizou joining the Singapore based stakes-winner Pitstop.

The blue-blooded son of Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) has been given good opportunity by Stuart Ramsey at his Turangga Farm and has four yearlings to be offered at the 2013 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, all of them consigned by Turangga. Click here to see them