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Overpass wins the G1 Winterbottom on remarkable day for Inglis graduates

2nd Dec 2023

Sensational sprinter Overpass (Vancouver) scored a deserved first G1 win in emphatic fashion in the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot this evening, capping off a red-letter day for Inglis graduates who won seven Stakes races in four States across two countries.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass was the class horse of the Winterbottom field, already a winner of almost $5m prior to today.

And he added an extra $822,000 to his prizemoney tally with what can only be described as a dominant performance, racing away for a two-length success.

Overpass led in a G1 quinella, defeating the $5500 Inglis Digital purchase Oscar’s Fortune in the Winterbottom.

It was his second feature race win in Perth, having won the $4m The Quokka earlier this year in the west.

Overpass (pictured) becomes the 87^th G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018 and 41^st in that same time frame that could have been purchased for $100,000 or less.

The 5YO is a graduate of the Easter Yearling Sale, where Darby Racing and Will Johnson teamed up to buy him for $75,000 from the draft of his breeder Corumbene Stud.

“It’s always nice to get a Group 1, we sold him during that Covid period which was tough for everybody at the time but it’s great to see him go on and become one of the best sprinters in the country and win his owners plenty of money. He’s been a great investment for them,’’ Corumbene’s George Altomonte said.

“He was always a nice yearling, we’ve still got the mother who has left a full sister on the ground who we’re retaining and is back in foal to Stay Inside.

“The farm is still going well, we’re getting plenty of winners and everything is going well.’’

Overpass rounded out a remarkable day for Inglis graduates who also won Stakes races at Caulfield, Rosehill, Doomben and Wanganui including two Stakes trifectas and a further two Stakes quinellas.

At Caulfield Serasana (Snitzel) became the sixth Inglis graduate in the past seven years to win the G2 Sandown Guineas with a dominant victory in today’s renewal.

The feature race has become a fortress for Inglis graduates in recent years with Serasana joining Blue Army (2021), Allibor (2020), Pretty Brazen (2019), Ringerdingding (2018) and Villermont (2017) as other Inglis winners in the past seven years.

A regally bred filly by Snitzel out of three-time Stakes winner Twilight Royale, Serasana was purchased by her trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew De Kock – along with Mathew’s father Mike De Kock and bloodstock agent Peter Ford – for $400,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by her breeder Kia Ora Stud.

“We weren’t worried about the mile today, we just hadn’t had her on a soft track but we looked this morning and her mum Twilight Royale ran second on a Heavy 10, we knew she was fit and well and in great form so it was ‘let’s go’,’’ Griffiths said.

Mathew De Kock added: “It’s lovely to get a result like this with her because we’ve always thought really highly of this filly. What a day, it’s just unbelievable.’’

Serasana , who races in the world-famous silks of Mrs Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud, defeated Arkansaw Kid today in a Stakes quinella for Inglis graduates.

And consistent 7YO Just Folk (Magnus) relished a wet track to win the G3 Eclipse Stakes, leading in a trifecta of Inglis graduates.

Trainer Gavid Bedggood teamed up with Jack Dickens’ Mailbag Bloodstock to purchase Just Folk for $199,000 in this year’s Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale – today’s prizemoney ensured Just Folk had earned connections their outlay back in just four starts for them.

Just Folk was backing up from last weekend’s Listed Cranbourne Cup, where he finished third.

“It was an afterthought to come here today but he pulled up so well and he had a really good blood count on Wednesday and did some light work on Thursday and with the rain predicted which he loves, we’re coming into December now and your chances are going to become slim to find these types of tracks,’’ Bedggood said.

“We sort of had to take the opportunity today and it’s paid off.’’

Bred by Leo and Maureen Dwyer, Just Folk defeated Danish Fortune and Keats today.

Kembla trainer Ben Smith snuck untapped 3YO West Of Dalby (Santos) up to Brisbane and while the punters may have missed her, she showed her superiority with a commanding win in the Listed Mode Stakes at Doomben.

The filly started $20 with Ladbrokes but won like an even money favourite, careering away for a comfortable victory against a quality field.

It was a second win from her past three starts and third overall from just eight career runs and most importantly, a first at Stakes level.

The Aquis Farm-bred West Of Dalby is a $115,000 Classic Yearling Sale buy for Tory Lavalle’s ML Stables from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft.

“That was amazing, all credit goes to Ben and [jockey] Brock [Ryan], Brock has been doing all her work at home and they knew she was wound up ready to go today and she did the rest,’’ an elated Lavalle said.

“We think we’ll freshen her up a bit now and target the $1m Inglis Sprint at Flemington next.’’

The Inglis Sprint is run on March 2.

At Rosehill Phearson (Exosphere) scored a deserving first black type victory when leading in an Inglis graduates trifecta in the G3 Festival Stakes.

The 6YO had raced 14 times prior to today and finished in the top three on 12 occasions before trainer Brad Widdup opted to test his consistent galloper at Stakes level.

And he wasted no time in securing his maiden black type win, holding off fellow Inglis grads Williamsburg and Rustic Steel to claim the Sydney feature.

Peter James’ Sunninghill Park Stud bought Phearson for $65,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Fernrigg Farm, who bred the horse with Tim Scales.

Today’s win took Phearson’s career prizemoney to almost $450,000.

And quality sprinter Dragonstone (Mikki Isle) showed a devastating turn of foot to score a big win in today’s Listed Starlight Stakes.

There are few more consistent gallopers in training than Dragonstone – he has finished in the top six at 20 of his past 21 starts, 10 of which have been at Stakes level.

Today’s win was his fifth overall and took his career earnings to more than $760,000.

Bred by the Forest Lodge Super Fund, Dragonstone is trained by Joe Pride and was offered by Holbrook Thoroughbreds at the Classic Yearling Sale.

Meanwhile in New Zealand promising 3YO Glamour Tycoon (Written Tycoon) scored a valuable first black type victory when winning the Listed Fillies Stakes at Wanganui.

The Stephen Marsh-trained filly is an $85,000 Great Southern Weanling Sale buy for Paul Moroney and Eva Heron’s Highline Thoroughbreds, from the draft of her breeder Diamond Park Breeding and Racing.

Glamour Tycoon has now finished in the quinella at six of her eight career starts.