News

Masthead The Headline Act

16th Feb 2011

Victorian-based first season sires took centre stage as the Lee Freedman trained Masthead set up a potential Blue Diamond start when winning today’s $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) at Mornington.

The race also provided two notable updates for the upcoming Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale with both Masthead and runner-up Emerald Downs having siblings being offered for sale.

MASTHEAD ($65,000 2010 Premier, 2c Written Tycoon-Balsamico) had been runner-up in the Inglis Banner during the spring carnival, but the Lindsay Park graduate went one better today.

The son of Eliza Park stallion Written Tycoon hadn’t raced since a close up fourth in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate last November and he has been made a $21 chance in the Blue Diamond.

Lindsay Park will offer a Good Journey half-sister as Lot 414 at this year’s Premier Sale.

Runner-up EMERALD DOWNS ($135,000 2010 Premier, 2f Churchill Downs-Spirit Of Grace) battled on bravely after crossing early from her outside draw, running right up to her recent impressive Moonee Valley win.

The filly is raced in similar interests to those which raced her dual Group 1 winning half-brother Turffontein, himself a Melbourne Premier graduate.

Emerald Downs was the first winner for young stallion Churchill Downs and Blue Gum Farm will offer a full-brother as Lot 293 at Premier.

Rounding out a trifecta for Victorian stallions, DELAGO’S LAD ($75,000 2010 Premier, 2c Delago Brom-Simulation) ran on solidly for third, indicating he is going to relish getting to the 1400m of next month’s VRC Sires Produce Stakes.

The Premier Sale was also in the spotlight a race later when consistent sprinter ZEDI KNIGHT ($35,000 2006 Premier, 6g Zeditave-Sly Sandra) took out the Listed Hareeba Stakes.

The Brendan McCarthy trained sprinter has now won seven races for earnings topping $300,000.

The 2011 Melbourne Premier Sale runs over four sessions from February 28 to March 3 at Oaklands.

Sirecam videos of yearlings are now online.

The next chance to secure money in the Inglis Race Series is the $100,000 Inglis Plate for graduates of the Melbourne Autumn Yearling Sale, to be held at Seymour on April 19.