News

Successful 72 hours for Inglis graduates globally

1st Apr 2025

An impressive victory by exciting juvenile Nepotism (Brutal) in today’s G3 Baillieu at Rosehill capped off a big 72 hours for Inglis graduates in Australia and Hong Kong.

The Team Hawkes-trained Nepotism was having just his second career start after finishing 3rd at G2 level on debut behind Tentyris and Wodeton in the Todman Stakes three weeks ago.

But the 2YO colt defied a betting drift and an unknown heavy track at today's meeting – which had been transferred from Saturday following wet weather in Sydney – to score a most impressive victory in what was an Inglis quinella, with Classic Sale graduate Savvy Hallie in second.

“At his first start in the Todman he was a bit unlucky we felt.. but he really hit the line strong,’’ co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.

“Today, going to 1400m, it wasn’t ideal not running Saturday but we just kept him ticking over. He was a little bit tardy away but when he finally got out he put paid to them. He’s a proper colt.

“He’s only a baby, it’s only his second start but he’s a valuable colt going forward. He’s a Group winner now and for Brutal, who we trained, his first Group winner.

“To be wearing those colour too of the Werrett family and their partners, they’ve been great to deal with and they keep having success and it’s a good ride.’’

The Hawkes’ will now consider backing Nepotism (pictured) up in Saturday’s G1 Inglis Sires at Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships.

Mark Player of International Thoroughbred Solutions bought Nepotism for $160,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by his breeder Gilgai Farm.

Nepotism is out of a full sister to 4-time G1-winning champion and Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate All Too Hard.

Gilgai is presenting a draft of ten yearlings at this weekend’s Easter Sale, for which inspections are now underway at Riverside.

The sale begins at midday Sunday and continues at 10am Monday.

To view the catalogue CLICK HERE.

Later on today’s Rosehill program the consistent 8YO Just Folk (Magnus) led all the way to score a sixth career Stakes victory when winning the G3 Doncaster Prelude.

Just Folk is a $199,000 Inglis Digital purchase for his trainer Gavin Bedggood and Jack Dickens of Mailbag Bloodstock.

Since they bought him, Just Folk has raced 14 times for four wins (all at Group level) and six minor placings and earned more than $850,000 in prizemoney.

There was also a pedigree update of substance for lot 188 in the Easter Yearling Sale catalogue.

That filly, by The Autumn Sun and to be offered by HP Thoroughbreds, is a half sister to today’s G3 Star Kingdom Stakes winner General Salute, for whom today’s win was a first in Stakes company.

At Flemington on Saturday exciting New Zealand-trained filly Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) continued her spectacular start to her career with a tough all-the-way victory in the Listed World Pool Sprint Classic, a race worth $500,000.

The 3YO has now raced nine times and has never been out of the quinella, with six victories and three runner-up finishes including twice at G1 level.

Her trainer Ken Kelso teamed up with Dean Hawthorne to buy Alabama Lass for $120,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds.

Alabama Lass is bred by Rifa Mustang.

And ageless sprinter Joyful Fortune (Nicconi) became the latest member of racing’s millionaires club when winning the Listed Bob Hoysted Hcp.

The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained 8YO is only lightly raced, with Saturday’s victory his fifth from just 13 career starts.

Bred by Michael Turner, Joyful Fortune is a $100,000 Classic Yearling Sale purchase for Orbis Bloodstock from Fairview Park Stud.

He has now won $1,039,087.

In the G1 Australian Cup, Light Infantry Man (Fast Company) provided owner Jack Pakis with another phenomenal result.

Pakis bought a 5% share in the imported gelding for $50,000 through the Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale last year.

Since then, the Ciaron Maher trainee has won the G1 Northerly in Perth, as well as running 3^rd in the G1 All-Star Mile, before Saturday’s big win.

He joins the likes of Private Harry, Port Lockroy, Benedetta and Private Eye as recent G1 winners in whom shares have been traded on Inglis Digital.

Meanwhile in Hong Kong on Sunday night Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock) secured a fourth career Stakes win with victory in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin.

The former Chris Waller-trained galloper – a $270,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Waller, from the Torryburn Stud draft – is now a seven-time winner of more than HKD20million.

Torryburn is presenting a draft of seven yearlings for the Easter Yearling Sale, including a yearling from the first crop of Home Affairs, the exciting young stallion who was bred by Torryburn before being offered at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2020.

There were also a number of recent important updates for the Chairman’s Sale, for which the catalogue was released last night.

Lekvarte - today’s G2 Emancipation Stakes victor at Rosehill and now a four-time Stakes winner – is being offered as lot 77 at the Chairman’s and A Little Deep, a winner of six races from just 13 starts including first-up at Flemington on Saturday for Ciaron Maher, is being offered as lot 25. The G1 win of La Dorada in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes on Saturday provided an update for lots 40 Calaverite and 65 Gold Rush, both of whom are half sisters to the dam of La Dorada.

The Chairman’s Sale will be held at Riverside on the evening of Thursday May 8.

To view the catalogue CLICK HERE.