News

Win A Share In A Blue Diamond Favourite

14th Feb 2015

When Vasko Ognenovski entered the Inglis and Herald Sun Win A Share In A Racehorse competition in 2014 he could never have imagined that less than a year later he would own a share in the Blue Diamond favourite. Ognenovski won a 10 per cent share in exciting two-year-old filly Fontiton, along with two years of training and insurance after she was selected by Robert Smerdon at the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

Fontiton (Turffontein x Personal Ensign) cruised easily to the line, finishing nearly two lengths ahead of the field in the Group 2 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday. A $110,000 purchase from the draft of Blue Gum Farm, who stand Turffontein, Fontiton has now earned her connections just shy of $400,000.

Fellow Inglis graduates who saluted today San Nicasio and Chautauqua raced themselves into strong positions for the Australian Guineas and the Newmarket Handicap next month. Mongolian Khan asserted himself early in the day as favourite for the New Zealand Derby.

An early favourite after her win in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview on Australia Day, Fontiton now prepares to step up to 1200m in the $1 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes in two weeks. Fontiton races for a large group of owners, managed by Matchem Racing and trainer Robert Smerdon, who feels confident about the greater distance.

“Watching the race she sort of came off the bridle before the corner she just looked to me like a horse that is going to be better over further,” said Smerdon.

“I thought she was terrific today, when they went along at that speed I thought obviously it was going to be hard for the leaders, but the way she flattened out and went to the line I thought was terrific,” Smerdon said.

San Nicasio (Hard Spun x Muchie) also showed class to win the Group 2 MRC Autumn Stakes (1400m) by three-quarters of a length and taking his winnings to $235,000 for trainer Peter Moody. Bred and sold by Woodside Park Stud at the 2013 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, San Nicasio will contest the $505,000 Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas in March.

After his win today in the Group 2 MRC Rubiton Stakes for Team Hawkes, Chautauqua (Encosta de Lago x Lovely Jubly) is now the favourite for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap over 1200m in four weeks. Offered at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Berkeley Park Stud, Chautauqua failed to meet reserve at $400,000, and has now earned his connections over $800,000.

Bred and sold by Tasmanian breeders Grenville Stud, Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor x Centafit) took out the Group 2 ARC Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie today. The $9,000 purchase at the 2012 Great Southern Weanling Sale made it five wins from six starts today and is now favourite for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at the end of the month.

Entries for the 2015 Inglis and Herald Sun Win A Share In A Racehorse competition are now open for Victorian residents. CLICK HERE to enter.

The 2015 edition of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, the source of Fontiton and San Nicasio, will be held in Melbourne on 1, 2, 3 and 4 March.

For more information visit inglis.com.au