Iron Filly Ihts Closing Inn Prevails in Belmont Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday July 15

The Sessions filly Ihts Closing Inn extended her winning Sequence to five when proving much the best in Saturday’s Listed Montague - Belmont Classic (2200m) at Belmont Park.

Ihts Closing Inn strolls in (image Western Racepix)

Willie Pike is a perfect six for six on the Adam Durrant-trained filly who was making her 14th start of the campaign.

Pike settled Ihts Closing Inn out the back before moving to a threatening position on straightening on the back of Upper Limits.  

Advertisement

A fourth winner on the day carrying the Oaklands Stud silks,  Ihts Closing Inn blew past Upper Limits (Exosphere) by two lengths, with Demolish (Rich Enuff) a head back in third.

“She just keeps lifting the bar, and I have a lot of respect for the second horse,” Durrant said.

“Willie said he wanted to ride her quietly. I said do what you want; you can’t win sitting fourth like we did last start. She does not have the same finish; play it how you feel.

“That is why he is as good as he is. I thought he had put her to sleep a bit too much. I thought she was losing touch a couple of times. She knows when to track up.”

Ihts Closing Inn has been on the go since January 5 after finishing unplaced in a Pinjarra Park maiden last August.

A last-start winner of the Listed WATC Belmont Oaks, the 3yo daughter of Sessions advances her record to eight wins, one second and two thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $488,438.

Winners are grinners (image Western Racepix)

Bred by Oakland Park Stud, Ihts Closing Inn is the best of three winners from four to race for the stakes-placed winner Ihtsatune (Ihtiram).

A sister to Group 1 Kingston Town Classic winner Ihtsahymn and half to Listed winner Jestatune (dam of Gr III MRC Vain Stakes winner Jukebox), and to the dams of Bruckner and Beethoven, Ihtsatune had not had a live foal in two years before being covered by Alabama Express last spring.

Ihts Closing Inn is one of three stakes winners for Oakland Park Stud’s Group II winning Lonhro stallion Sessions, which stands at an increased fee of $11,000 in 2023. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Montague - Belmont Classic LR 2200m

Belmont Park Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:20.74
1
Ihts Closing Inn
- 3f Sessions (AUS) x Ihtsatune (AUS) (Ihtiram (IRE))
Tnr: A G Durrant Rdr: W Pike 54.5
2
2.0
Upper Limits
- 3g Exosphere (AUS) x Defar (AUS) (Wanted (AUS))
Tnr: Jeremy Easthope Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 56.5
3
2.2
Demolish
- 3g Rich Enuff (AUS) x Magnus Missile (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: Chris Parnham 56.5
Rich Enuff
4
2.3
I Love Your Smile
- 3f Sebring (AUS) x Valentine's Reward (AUS) (Reward For Effort (AUS))
Tnr: Lucy Fiore Rdr: Lucy Fiore 54.5
5
3.1
Covert Rose
- 3f Dissident (AUS) x Antique Rose (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: P Carbery 54.5
6
3.4
Amjaad
- 3f Flying Artie (AUS) x Azyaan (AUS) (Dream Ahead (USA))
Tnr: Indianna Weinert Rdr: S O'Donnell 54.5
7
3.8
Secret Attraction
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Impassioned (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A G Durrant Rdr: Michael Poy 54.5
8
7.4
Prince I Think
- 3g Vert De Grece (IRE) x Joyous Affair (AUS) (Trade Fair (GB))
Tnr: Summer Dickson Rdr: B Parnham 56.5
9
13.7
Makin Prophets
- 3g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Black Prophet (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: Holly Watson 56.5
More Reading...
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.