News

Mariamia, Shinzo claim G1 Glory

18th Mar 2023

The surging Inglis Digital platform has another G1 hero after Mariamia blitzed her rivals in today’s The Galaxy at Rosehill.

On a day that saw Golden Slipper winner Shinzo – who was sold in utero at the Chairman’s Sale when his dam Samaready was a supplementary entry in 2020 – dominate the 2YO feature, Mariamia (Toronado) scored a convincing win in The Galaxy to secure her first top-level victory.

Newhaven Park’s John Kelly purchased Mariamia for a sale-topping $335,000 in the Inglis Digital March (Early) Sale 12 months ago, where she was offered by her former owner Gasper Stellato, who had purchased her for just $18,000 from the Premier Yearling Sale from Swettenham Stud.

At the time of her purchase, Kelly said Mariamia was bought primarily to be sent to Newhaven-based stallion Xtravagant, and while that will still likely happen, there’s more to achieve on the track first.

“I think we might have a look at the TJ Smith Stakes now,’’ Kelly said.

“She’s won a Galaxy, who’s to say she can’t win a TJ as well?

“This is just an amazing feeling. Did I see her winning a Galaxy when we bought her off Inglis Digital? Never. But I guess you should never say never in this game. It’s just wonderful.’’

Amid the post-race celebrations, John’s brother Charles added: “How good’s Inglis Digital. How bloody good is Inglis Digital!’’

Today’s win continued the phenomenal run of Inglis graduates in The Galaxy who have now won five of the past seven editions via Mariamia, Shelby Sixtysix (2022), Nature Strip (2019), In Her Time (2018) and Russian Revolution (2017).

Mariamia (pictured) also becomes the 80th G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018.

Winning trainer Joe Pride described today’s performance as “dynamic’’.

“It’s very special. We’ve obviously been really happy with her all preparation, she just didn’t see out the 1300m last start but freshened up and back to the sprint trip, she was dynamic today,’’ the trainer said.

“It’s her crowning moment, she’s won a Galaxy now.

“We specialise in taking these tried horses on who may need a bit of rejuvenating, getting the right people around them and I just relish the task of taking on a horse like that.’’

The Inglis Digital March (Late) Online Sale is live now at inglisdigital.com, with 390 entries lotted for the auction.

The final countdown of bidding begins from midday Wednesday.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

A race prior to The Galaxy was the $5m Golden Slipper, won by the Chris Waller-trained Shinzo.

Shinzo was sold in utero at the 2020 Chairman’s Sale when her dam, Samaready, was entered as a supplementary entry for the sale.

Coolmore’s Tom Magnier bought Samaready – in foal to Snitzel - for $1.8m at the sale, with the resultant foal being Shinzo.

Supplementary entries for this year’s Chairman’s catalogue are now being taken and will close at 5pm on Friday April 21.

Also at Rosehill today, exciting filly Opal Ridge (Rubick) put the disappointment of a failed Inglis Sprint mission behind her with a dominant first-up win in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes.

The Luke Pepper-trained 3YO was favourite for the $750,000 Inglis Sprint at Flemington a fortnight ago before being a late scratching on race day due to an incident in the float on the way to the track.

But today she showed she’s in for a big campaign, producing a dominant turn of foot to race away with the feature.

Opal Ridge – now a winner of five of her eight starts for $530,000 – is a $20,000 Classic Yearling Sale purchase for Ryan Hunt from the draft of her breeders Wayne and Pauline Alchin of Carramar Park.

Opal Ridge will next target the G3 PJ Bell Stakes at Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships in two weeks.

At Moonee Valley today, Bank Maur (Maurice) scored a first Stakes success when winning the G2 Alister Clark Stakes.

It was a third career win from just nine starts for the Richard Laming-trained Bank Maur, a $130,000 Premier Yearling Sale buy for his trainer from the Milburn Creek draft.

Bank Maur – now a winner of more than $750,000 in prizemoney - was bred by Arrowfield.

And in Perth tonight untapped 2YO Live To Tell (Territories) exploded away to win the Listed Supremacy Stakes at Ascot.

The Bernie Howlett-bred Live To Tell was having just her second start, having finished a close second to star WA juvenile Brave Halo on debut.

Trainer Simon Miller purchased Live To Tell for $100,000 at the Australian Weanling Sale, where she was offered by Fernrigg Farm.