News

Inglis Rout Of Doomben Features

22nd May 2010

Metal Bender capped a monster day for Inglis graduates in Brisbane when he finished best to win the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m).

He was the fifth Inglis Group winner in succession on the feature Doomben card.

METAL BENDER ($160,000 2007 Easter, 4g Danasinga-Jacqwin) was sold by Waikato Stud and is now a three times Group 1 winner of $1.35million. He has thrived in Queensland this campaign, having had the best part of a year off after running second in last year’s G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He won the Gold Coast Hollindale Stakes at his previous start.

His win completed a Group race treble for trainer Chris Waller with Inglis graduates.

The Doomben Cup is the 23rd Group 1 race won by Inglis graduates in season 2009-10.

Earlier, STRYKER ($600,000 2008 Easter, 3c Fastnet Rock-Laetitia) burst into Stradbroke Handicap calculations when overcoming a wide draw to comprehensively win the Group 3 Fred Best Classic.

Offered for sale by Segenhoe Stud and secured by Ingham Bloodstock, the Chris Waller trained colt has had little luck with barriers since heading north, but it mattered little today, with the Group 1 placed colt outclassing his opponents.

Chris Waller wants to start in the Stradbroke, but is likely to need another race to qualify, with next week’s G1 Doomben 10,000 or the G2 QTC Cup the following week likely options.

PRESSDAY ($38,000 2009 Classic, 2c Domesday-Kaaptive Empress) became the middle leg of the Waller treble when he lived up to strong Sydney formlines when finishing best to claim the Group 2 Champagne Stakes.

A graduate of Glenarvon Park, Pressday had finished third in fast time to Hinchinbrook at Group 3 level in the run up to the Golden Slipper. He will now chase Group 1 riches in next month’s T.J. Smith at Eagle Farm, with a run in the G2 Sires Produce on June 5 also pencilled in.

The Inglis winners kept on coming at Doomben, with the Mike Moroney trained Marheta winning the Group 3 Doomben Roses.

MARHETA ($70,000 2008 Easter II, 3f Al Maher-Geeta) made full use of her inside alley to win the Roses and is now one of the leading contenders in next month’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

She joins dual Group 1 winner Faint Perfume and Group winners Response and Lovemelikearock as fillies purchased out of the inaugural Session II of the Easter Sale in 2008.

ROTHESAY (P$140,000 2008 Easter, 3c Fastnet Rock-Schiaparelli) scored an emotional win when proving far too classy in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup.

Rothesay was offered for sale by Philippa Duncan Bloodstock but was passed in when bidding failed to reach his $150,000 reserve. The colt was then retained to race by breeder Sue Suduk, who sadly died after a long illness earlier this month.

Trainer Gerald Ryan is now weighing up a Stradbroke or Queensland Guineas start for Rothesay, who is the winner of three races in six starts.