News

Inglis grads star on big Sha Tin card

28th Apr 2024

Inglis graduates dominated an important card at of G1 racing at Sha Tin, winning two of the three highlight races.

Long heralded as a future star of Hong Kong racing, Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) earned a deserved first G1 win by making all to win the G1 Champions Mile.

The John Size-trained 5YO started favourite for the 2023 edition of the Hong Kong Derby and was narrowly beaten into third by Voyage Bubble over a 2000m trip that stretched his stamina to the limit.

At a more suitable trip today, Beauty Eternal benefited from a masterful front-running ride from champion jockey Zac Purton.

Dictating terms to his rivals, who included 10-time G1 winner Golden Sixty, Beauty Eternal established a margin on his rivals at the top of the straight and galloped on relentlessly, coming home 1.5 lengths clear of runner-up Red Lion, with Inglis Classic Yearling Sale graduate Voyage Bubble in third.

The Peter Raftopolous-bred Beauty Eternal was purchased by agent John Foote for $90,000 from the draft of Fernrigg Farm at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

For Raftopolous, a self-professed “humble breeder with just a few mares”, it was a result that he will forever be proud of.

“It’s my first G1 winner as a breeder and I’m over the moon,” he said.

“He’s been a very good horse in Hong Kong from the get-go and everything worked out perfectly for him to have a winning run tonight.

“He was a nice yearling, but one that looked like he would appreciate a little time, so John Size has done a masterful job with him and hopefully there is more to come.

“I’ve had some challenges with his dam in recent years, but she’s carrying to Home Affairs and hopefully she can carry to term, while I’ve also got Beauty Eternal’s Stakes placed half sister Love Sensation in foal to Starspanglebanner, so that mating will produce a very close relative to Beauty Eternal.”

Beauty Eternal is one of 43 individual G1-winning Inglis graduates who could have been purchased for $100,000 or less since 2018.

Taking on G1 company for the first time in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, progressive 4YO Invincible Sage (Thronum) produced a brilliant performance to win in dominant fashion.

The David Hall trainee (pictured) was taking on a formidable field for the 1200m contest, with his 10 rivals including California Spangle, who was shooting for a G1 hattrick, as well as last start Japanese G1 winner Mad Cool and local sprint star Victor The Winner.

Under big race jockey Hugh Bowman, Invincible Sage broke alertly and adopted a prominent position early on, travelling powerfully on the heels of the leaders.

Bowman eased his mount into the clear at the 300m mark, seemingly oozing confidence with his mount going ominously well.

Given his cue to go in pursuit of the leading pair with little more than a furlong to run, Invincible Sage responded instantly to bound past both California Spangle and Victor The Winner, putting the race to bed in just a matter of strides.

At the line, he had 1.5 lengths to spare over California Spangle, with Inglis Premier Yearling Sale graduate Mugen finishing off strongly for third.

Invincible Sage was purchased by Rich River Meat Exports Pty Ltd for $200,000 from the draft of his breeder Sun Stud at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and was a three-time winner in Australia as Thron Bone for trainer Jerome Hunter before being exported to Hong Kong.

This was his seventh win from 19 starts, for earnings in excess of $4.76m

“I am very proud of this horse, he is the quintessential Hong Kong sprinter,” jockey Bowman said post-race.

“He has adapted to the lifestyle, put on weight and looks magnificent and it’s a pleasure to be part of it.

“I think the rain may have assisted him, but even on a dry day, I think it would have been a winning day.”

Following the G1 win of Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate Climbing Star yesterday, Invincible Sage and Beauty Eternal are part of a weekend G1 treble for Inglis graduates and become the 96^th and 97^th individual G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018.

Their wins continue an incredible run of success being enjoyed by Inglis graduates in Hong Kong, with Voyage Bubble and Victor The Winner having scored at the highest level this season, while 4YO Helios Express won two of the three legs of the prestigious 4YO Triple Crown.