In The Boat Captures $500,000 The Country Discovery

Mark Smith - Friday April 15

When Rosemont announced fees for 2022, Nostradamus and  Starspangledbanner were notable absentees, which was the cue for the pair to quinella the inaugural $500,000 The Country Discovery (1100m) at Sale on Good Friday.

He's a winner (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Never off the board in 11 starts, the Nostradamus gelding In The Boat built on his admirable winning record with another dominant performance.

Ridden by Blaike McDougall for Lindsay Smith, In The Boat led at every call to defeat Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) by two and three-quarter lengths with Sirius Suspect (Wanted) a further one and a half lengths back in third.

Advertisement

Coming off a last-start win in the Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, In The Boat advances his record to seven wins, a second and three thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $613,750.

McDougall believes In The Boat has what it takes to go to the top.

“I think as long as he stays sound and fit, he will win a Group 1, especially around the Valley,” McDougall said.  

‘The sectionals he can run early and how he allows himself to quicken off them makes it nearly impossible to catch him.

“I reckon he has Group 1 written all over him.”

In The Boat Blaike McDougall (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

 Bred by Darren Weir, In The Boat is the first foal of the Snitzel mare Almost Crystal which was purchased for $27,000 by Forest Lodge Racing from the Ribblesdale Stud draft at the 2017 August Thoroughbred Sale when carrying In The Boat.

Placed four times from seven starts, Almost Crystal is a daughter of the unraced Zabeel mare Diamond Darling a sister to the dam of triple Group 1 winner Humidor.

Diamond Darling’s granddam is the champion Habibti, a triple Group 1 winning half-sister to famed matron Eight Carat.

Almost Crystal has a yearling filly by Artie Schiller (USA) and was covered by Star Witness last spring.

  

Advertisment

Race Result - The Country Discovery Hcp 1100m

Sale Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.26
1
In The Boat
- 4g Nostradamus (AUS) x Almost Crystal (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
2
2.8
Brooklyn Hustle
- 5m Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Joint Aspiration (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: J Warren & D Krongold Rdr: D Oliver 56.5
3
4.3
Sirius Suspect
- 7g Wanted (AUS) x Sirius Miss (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: Craig Williams 54
4
5.5
Dirty Thoughts
- 4m So You Think (NZ) x Sheer Fantazee (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
5
5.6
Halvorsen
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Flourishing (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: A Mallyon 58.5
6
5.7
Lombardo
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Swinging Babe (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Zac Spain 55
7
6.4
The Inferno
- 5g Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Spina Rosa (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: M Zahra 60.5
8
6.6
Rock Prophet
- 5g Moshe (AUS) x Stiletto Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: R J Besanko Rdr: C Newitt 54
9
7.1
Express Pass
- 5g Wandjina (AUS) x Pass The Parcel (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: Fred W Kersley 55
10
7.3
Snapper
- 4g Power (GB) x Onlyarose (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
11
9.1
Savatoxl
- 6g Kuroshio (AUS) x Li'l Miss Hayley (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: B Vorster 61
12
9.8
Vainstream
- 7g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Yasey San (AUS) (Yasey (JPN))
Tnr: John Pascoe Rdr: Teodore Nugent 54
More Reading...
NZB Filly of the Year Series Springs to Life with Gold Trail Stakes
One of the traditional signs that spring racing has arrived in New Zealand is the running of the first leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). The $150,000 race looks a little different this year in a temporary new home, but it will still give us that same first look at the latest crop of fillies vying for the coveted title.
Sunlight’s Sister Clean Energy Retired
The most expensive yearling filly sold in Australia in 2023 when fetching $2.6million for Widden Stud at Inglis Easter, Clean Energy has been retired to stud.
River (Banking) on Dalasan
There are any number of reasons a stallion can go radio silent in their third and fourth seasons at stud.
In The Boat all the Way In Abell Stakes
After having his four-race winning streak snapped when third at Caulfield at his most recent start, In The Boat was back in the winner’s circle when earning a maiden stakes success in Friday night’s Listed Entry Education Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Melbourne Cup Ciaron Maher Stable Also in the Hunt
Earlier this week we ran a story on the Chris Waller trained entries for this year’s Melbourne Cup and today we’re taking a look at the trainer with the next biggest number of contenders and that is Ciaron Maher with 13.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 4
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mitchell McKenzie Colts Showcase
All eyes will be on the $175,000 Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday with an intriguing field of nine colts and geldings all vying for that all important first stakes win.
Debut Winner and Welcome Return
Vinery Stud’s Exceedance produced a debut winner at Moe on Thursday that started as a short priced favourite and on Saturday at Randwick we will see the return of his best performer to date.
Alabama Lass Primed for G1 Moir
Tackling Group Ones on either side of the Tasman is nothing new for Ken and Bev Kelso, and they will do exactly that this weekend.
Corumbene Stud Mourn Loss of Treasured Mare
Corumbene Stud took to Instagram earlier today to announce the passing of their much loved broodmare Bahia, the dam of Golden Slipper winner Overreach.