Tuvalu – just the second horse Merricks Station’s Ben Cooper ever offered for sale – became the Victorian farm’s first G1 winner when saluting in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.
Merricks Station only officially opened in 2018 and it was at the 2019 Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands that Cooper offered his first draft.
The second horse of that draft to enter the ring was a Kermadec x Hangin’ Tough colt, which Boomer Bloodstock’s Craig Rounsefell and trainer Lindsey Smith teamed up to buy for $200,000.
Now known as Tuvalu the 5YO – already with a spectacular 12:7.4.1 overall record leading into today’s feature Caulfield meeting – scored a deserving G1 win with victory in the Toorak Handicap.
For Cooper, who also bred Tuvalu having raced his dam, herself an Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate, today’s win was a dream come true.
“It’s unbelievable, it really is. We’ve just been down celebrating with the connections and Lindsey and for the farm to be in this scenario is unbelievable,’’ an ecstatic Cooper said.
“It’s been highly emotional, I think because it’s been the full journey – we raced the dam, Matt Becker did the mating with Kermadec for us, we foaled him down, raised him, sold him as a yearling and now he’s gone and won a Group 1.
“It’s our first Group 1 for the farm. Lindsey was just telling us what a cracking type he was at Oaklands at the sale and while he paid a bit for him, gee not many have a better record after 13 starts.’’
Adding to the excitement of the day, Merricks Station will offer a half brother to Tuvalu at next year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Tuvalu today became the 76th G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018.
Earlier on the Caulfield program, exciting filly English Riviera (Deep Field) scored a valuable first Stakes success with a tough win in the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
Stakes placed at two, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained English Riviera caught everyone’s attention when resuming this preparation with a 10 length win at Ballarat.
She had run two sound races since – both at Stakes level – but today she fought off all challengers to secure the first of what promises to be many Group victories.
“She’s a really good quality filly and not much has gone right for her so to win this Stakes race here today was so pleasing, very rewarding for me and all my team,’’ co-trainer Tony McEvoy said.
“I was surprised she was beaten for speed, I thought she might control things but she had a beautiful run, presented and just had to hold on and God bless her, she did.’’
Bred by Alan Bell, English Riviera is a $260,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Mark Pilkington from the Vinery Stud draft and races in the Seymour Bloodstock colours of Darren Thomas.
She could now head to Flemington in three weeks for the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Meanwhile Literary Magnate (Written Tycoon) resumed with victory in the G3 Northwood Plume Stakes, a valuable first black type success for the well-related mare.
It was a big result for young Warnnambool trainer Matthew Williams, who teamed up with Sheamus Mills at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale to purchase Literary Magnate for $135,000 from the draft of Tyreel, who bred the horse.
The 4YO mare has now won $465,000, a significant return on investment for connections.
And it was an Inglis graduates quinella in the Listed Weekend Hussler at Caulfield as Cardinal Gem (Choisir) defeated Morvada.
It was a second consecutive win for Cardinal Gem, who is one of the most consistent horses in training, having finished in the first four placings at 11 of his 15 starts.
The 4YO is a strong Inglis pinhook success – initially a $32,000 Australian Weanling Sale purchase for Gippsland Bloodstock from his breeder Aquis Farm, before his trainer Grahame Begg and Rohan Hughes paid $60,000 for him at the Premier Yearling Sale, where he was again offered by Gippsland Bloodstock.
Today’s win took Cardinal Gem’s career earnings to $325,000.
At Randwick today, quality filly Opal Ridge (Rubick) made it four wins from seven starts with a dominant performance in the inaugural $500,000 Tapp-Craig for 3YOs.
It was the biggest win of the career of young Scone trainer Luke Pepper, who struggled to contain his emotions post-race.
“It’s the rain, not tears,’’ Pepper joked.
“But seriously, a big thank you to [Inglis Senior Bloodstock Consultant] Harry Bailey, he found this horse for Ryan Hunt at the Classic Sale so Ryan bought her and I didn’t see her until she got to the stables, but she’s just such a darling.’’
Hunt paid just $20,000 for Opal Ridge at the Classic Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Carramar Park.
From seven career starts, Opal Ridge has now won four races with two minor placings for $450,000 in earnings.
While the racing action was intense today, inspections were ongoing for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale at Riverside, which takes place on Tuesday from 10am.
Parades continue tomorrow and Monday before lot 1 enters the ring at 10am Tuesday.
To view the Ready2Race catalogue CLICK HERE.
