News

Inglis Stars Come Out For Spring

15th Aug 2009

Kicked off by in-form Choisir colt Starspangledbanner, Inglis graduates enjoyed a stakes treble in Melbourne and Sydney today as the build up to the forthcoming spring carnival gathered momentum.

STARSPANGLEDBANNER ($120,000 2008 Premier, 3c Choisir-Gold Anthem) took out the first race in the inaugural $2.5M Inglis Race Series last October and trainer Leon Corstens has him flying since returning as a three-year-old.

Starspangledbanner resumed with a win over 1000m at Caulfield two weeks back and today was able to stretch his brilliance to 1100m by winning the Listed Vain Stakes - a deserved black type win for the colt after dual stakes placings last season.

He is now the winner of three races in six outings for earnings topping $320,000.

The Vain provided an Inglis quinella, with Fastnet Rock's $500,000 Easter graduate Eclair Fastpass filling the runner-up stall.

Starspangledbanner was offered for sale by MAKYBE and Tony Santic's operation completed the feature three-year-old double when their Anabaa filly Corsaire won the Listed Quezette Stakes in the following race.

Group 1 placed mare CATS WHISKER ($250,000 2007 Easter, 4m Fusaichi Pegasus-Perfect Halo) later completed a Caulfield stakes double for Inglis, when she overcame a wide barrier before showing great tenacity in the straight to land the Group 3 Cockram Stakes.

Offered for sale by Coolmore Stud, Cats Whisker was Group 1 placed in the Thousand Guineas last season and the G3 victory not only signals a bright spring ahead for the Mark Kavanagh trained mare, but also further enhances her already valuable broodmare potential.

The win completed a good day for the Kavanagh stable, who earlier won with Raffaello, before Inglis Classic graduate Whobegotyou made a slashing return to racing with his second in the G2 Liston Stakes.

Inglis graduates claimed half the races on the Caulfield card, with $130,000 Premier purchase Pacino and $160,000 Easter buy Miss Maren bookending the program.

In Sydney, grand performer MENTALITY ($100,000 2005 Easter, 6g Flying Spur-Synaesthesia) provided his connections with yet another big race thrill when he dead-heated for first in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes.

The win took the Hawkes family trained gelding's earnings beyond the $2million mark and gives the Arrowfield Stud product the distinction of having now won stakes races over five consecutive seasons - a feat of longevity very few horses achieve.

Mentality was the middle leg of an Easter treble at Rosehill, with Disco Dancer ($160,000) and Centennial Park (P$140,000) also scoring.