News

Inglis Group 1 Quinella On Eve Of Premier

28th Feb 2015

Inglis graduates Shamal Wind and Under The Louvre went one-two in the Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday, making a quinella for Robert Smerdon and the Aquanita Racing-purchased yearlings.

Storming home from the back of the field, Shamal Wind (Dubawi x Firemaid) defeated stablemate Under The Louvre and Lindsay Park-trained Fast ‘N’ Rocking on her third attempt at Caulfield’s feature sprint.

“It is unbelievable and a really good outcome. I was trying to watch them both and I settled on Under The Louvre, I thought that he was going to win the race, but then she emerged late and I will have to see the replay to appreciate it,” said Smerdon.

“I have to give credit to James Harron here because I thought that at Group 1 she had her opportunities and fallen short, but once she won that Stakes race he said that they wanted to have a crack at the Group 1 and we would keep her fresh and try to make it a Group 1 scenario. They managed it and we did.” Smerdon added.

A $55,000 purchase from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2011 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Shamal Wind took her racetrack earnings to in excess of $830,000 with her maiden Group 1 win.

Shamal Wind joins the likes of Starspangledbanner and Weekend Hustler as fellow Inglis Premier graduates to win the Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate.

The 2015 edition of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale will be held over 4 days starting with lots 1 to 160 from 12 noon tomorrow, Sunday 1 March.

Other Stakes wins for Inglis graduates were Mongolian Khan in New Zealand, and Mourinho and Sabatini at Caulfield.

Australian-bred Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor x Centafit) saluted in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie for trainer Murray Baker. Bred and sold by Tasmania’s Grenville Stud at the 2012 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, the $9,000 purchase today took his winnings to NZ$625,500.

Mourinho (Oratorio x Benevolent) took out the Group 2 MRC Peter Young Stakes taking his earnings to over $960,000 for trainer Peter Gelagotis. Purchased from the Little Wych draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Mourinho sold for $36,000, an amazing return on investment.

Sabatini (Street Cry x Royal Sash) won the Group 2 MRC Angus Armanasco Stakes. Reserved at $150,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore Stud, the Lee and Shannon Hope-trained three-year-old took her earnings to $375,775 today for owners Alpara Lodge.