News

Millennium field confirmed as Sampson unveiled as Pink Bonus Ambassador

7th Feb 2023

The final field for Saturday’s $2m Inglis Millennium at Randwick has been declared, with 16 runners plus four emergencies ensuring a full field of acceptances.

The unbeaten Widden Stakes victor Learning To Fly for trainer Annabel Neasham remains the $2.80 TAB favourite for the race, despite drawing barrier 19, although she will likely jump from barrier 16 once the emergencies come out.

The barrier draw was more favourable for Inglis Nursery runner-up Facile (1) while the likes of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Kundalini (5) and Chris Waller’s undefeated filly Lazzago (9) both fared ideally.

The Millennium field is made up of horses from the Easter Yearling Sale, Premier Yearling Sale, Classic Yearling Sale, Australian Weanling Sale and the Inglis Ready2Race Sale.

Connections of TAB third favourite Kundalini ($8.50) couldn’t be happier with the barrier draw.

“Her debut run was really encouraging and that came off just the one trial and while she’s still learning her craft, she’s improved a lot since that first run,’’ Ciaron Maher said.

“Her work on Saturday was perfect and obviously we couldn’t be happier with the barrier so we can’t wait until Saturday.’’

Facile – who has had one run for a close-up second behind Saturday’s rival again Saltaire in the Inglis Nursery in December – has drawn barrier one for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.

“We’re happy with one. We wanted to draw inside five so you can’t complain with the pole in a 2YO race especially,’’ Ryan said.

“We’ll have to go through the field but I’d imagine she’d settle just behind the speed from there.

“She’s come back well, she’s got here herself, we haven’t had to push her so with a bit of luck on Saturday she should be right there.’’

Facile is one of five horses in the Millennium which will be competing for the $400,000 Pink Bonus on Saturday on top of the $2m overall prizemoney offered.

Connections of the first horse home officially between Facile, Arkansaw Kid, The Player, Lazzago and Chevron will win an extra $400,000 Inglis Pink Bonus on top of any prizemoney earned from their finishing position.

The final field announcement comes as Inglis unveils Fox Sports NRL presenter Yvonne Sampson as its Pink Bonus ambassador.

Sampson has spent a lifetime around horses – her grandfather Roy Morris was a trainer at Warwick Farm and also owned Wild Oaks Stud.

Prior to her television career on Channel Nine and Fox Sports, Sampson worked and rode for an Olympic Dressage stud in Denmark, worked at a stud in Stratford Upon Avon in the UK prepping yearlings in England and was part of the sales team for Newmarket, Goffs and Deauville for Europe’s leading consignors.

She also competed in equestrian events growing up and was on the Australian Young Riders Dressage squad.

“I have loved, ridden, worked with and owned horses all of my life so I feel unbelievably proud to be an Inglis Ambassador and help bring that joy to other women,’’ Sampson said.

“Most women have a love for horses but as adults may not know how to go about getting involved in the thrill of ownership so I want to help them be a part of it through the Inglis Pink Bonus Series.

“The Inglis Pink Bonus is such an amazing incentive for women to get involved in such a great industry and I’m so excited to work with the Inglis team to spread the word and get peolple involved.’’

To view the Millennium field CLICK HERE.