News

Lofty ambitions for latest Xtra Bonus Maiden Series winner

19th Sep 2024

The additional prizemoney won as part of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Series today hit $500,000 when Lofty Arch (Snitzel) scored on debut at Cranbourne.

The Alex Rae-trained Lofty Arch went straight to the lead for jockey Ethan Brown and fought off a strong challenge from runner up Certain Rise to take home the $100,000 bonus on offer.

The first five runners across the line today - Lofty Arch, Certain Rise, Superata, Acta Non Verba and Ahha Ahha – were all eligible for the bonus, simply by being an Inglis graduate and paid up for the $12.55m Inglis Race Series.

Of the nine runners in today’s race, seven were eligible for the $100,000 bonus.

The combination of the standard winning prizemoney and the Inglis Xtra Bonus means the connections of Lofty Arch will collect an extraordinary $120,625 in prizemoney for today’s win.

In just seven weeks of the Xtra Bonus Maiden Series, today’s was the fifth $100,000 bonus to be won, at five different racetracks in three different States – Coffs Harbour, Sale, Sunshine Coast, Scone and now Cranbourne.

Paul Lofitis of The Lofty Thoroughbreds Group purchased Lofty Arch for $200,000 at last year’s Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Twin Hills Stud, on behalf of his breeder Woodpark Stud.

Such is the opinion Lofitis has of Lofty Arch, the colt was set to debut in Saturday’s Listed Poseidon Stakes at Flemington, which was won by fellow graduate of last year’s Easter Sale in Growing Empire.

“But then the rain came and we didn’t want to waste a run on a wet track when we knew we had him going well so we had this race as a back-up because of the great prizemoney and the timing was just perfect in the end,’’ Lofitis said.

“In hindsight, even if he won the Poseidon, we wouldn’t have won anywhere near as much money as we did by winning this Maiden because of the $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus.

“We’ll step him up in grade now and see how he goes, there’s the [G2] Danehill and the [G1] Coolmore, both down the Flemington straight. Is he good enough? I mean he’s only won a maiden today but he did it in great style and you never know until you try.

“The Inglis Race Series is fantastic, I do 95% of my buying with Inglis and we’ll do plenty more business with Inglis in months and years to come.’’

Winning trainer Alex Rae added: “It’s a wonderful privilege to get a Snitzel colt into the barn so we needed to deliver.

“He was very forward because we were toying with the idea of actually starting him in the Stakes race on Saturday instead and for that, he needed to be really screwed down.

“There’ll be natural improvement to come and he’s a really nice colt.’’

A total of 50 maidens Australia-wide – effectively one each week – will carry the $100,000 Xtra Bonus per season.

To win the bonus, a horse simply needs to be an Inglis graduate and paid up for the $12.55m Inglis Race Series.

The next Xtra Bonus Maiden will be held at Goulburn next Thursday (Sept 26) in the Open Maiden Hcp over 1500m.

Nominations for that race close 11am tomorrow, Friday September 20.

For the most up to date schedule of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden races CLICK HERE.