News

Singapore Group 2 For Classic Pinhook

9th Nov 2014

Inglis Classic Sale pinhook Born To Fly delivered trainer Stephen Gray a tremendous 50th birthday present on Sunday when winning the S$350,000 Singapore Group 2 EW Barker Trophy over 1400m at Kranji.

The Australian bred Born To Fly (Mossman x Conclude) jumped cleanly from barrier one, took a sit behinds the leaders and once into the straight dashed between horses to a deserved victory over Magneto and Daniel.

The EW Barker is the third stakes win for Stephen Gray this year adding to the victories of his star Inglis Easter graduate Emperor Max, which is entered for the Hong Kong International Races in December.

"I’m just so, so, so happy and it’s not just because it’s my birthday. He [Born To Fly] is such a great honest little horse. He’s run in many Group races and always tries his best, he never lets you down and I’m so happy for the horse he’s finally won a Group race," said Stephen Gray.

"I was just recovering from last night, but now, we’ll definitely have another party tonight!"

Born To Fly was an A$14,000 purchase by Centaur Park Thoroughbreds from Vinery Stud's draft at the 2009 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale. Centaur then pinhooked the son of Mossman through the Gold Coast Breeze Up Sale for A$50,000 where he was purchased by Stephen Gray.

The Classic pinhook has been a great horse for Stephen and Bridget Gray winning over S$770,000 thanks to eight wins and 18 placings in 54 starts.

Sunday's winning time of 1 minute 21.4 seconds was only just 0.82 seconds shy of Super Ninetyseven's 1400m Short Course track record. A Singapore Group 1 winner Super Ninetyseven is another successful Inglis Classic pinhook.

Super Ninetyseven (Show a Heart x Yabeel) was sold from the draft of Wimmera Park Stud for A$50,000 at the 2011 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale. The colt then made NZ$125,000 to trainer Michael Freedman as a two-year-old when sold by Lyndhurst Farm NZ.

The 2015 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale Summer Book will be held in early February next year. The catalogue is currently being finalised for release at the end of November 2014.