Two valuable Inglis sponsored races for the babies on Saturday, with the $500,000 Inglis Banner on a superb Champions Day at Flemington and the $1,000,000 Group III Inglis Golden Gift at Rosehill.
Much excitement surrounds the first Australian crop of Coolmore Stud's Wootton Bassett (GB).
The European sire sensation will have his first runner when Michael Wayne and John Hawkes send out West of Swindon in the Inglis Golden Gift at Rosehill.
Consigned by Widden Stud to the 2024 Magic Millions, West of Swindon was a $350,000 purchase for Hawkes Racing. His breeder Qatar Bloodstock, has retained a share and will sport their claret with gold braid silks.
West Of Swindon a $350,000 Magic Millions yearling
The running of the Victorian Oaks on Thursday evoked memories of the 1983 VRC Oaks won by West Of Swindon's fourth dam Taj Eclipse.
Trained by Bart Cummings and ridden by champion apprentice Darren Gauci, the daughter of Cummings' beloved Taj Rossi prevailed in a titanic struggle with Mapperley Heights.
Ironically, Mapperley Heights was part-owned by Robert Sangster, who sold Taj Eclipse's dam, Glad One (Milesian), to Bart Cummings a decade earlier for about $30,000.
Placed in the Irish Oaks and a half-sister to Irish Oaks winner Merry Mate, Cummings later sold Glad One to Taj Eclipse's owner-breeder, Vic Peters.
Taj Eclipse's unraced daughter Ameerat-Blaadi (Kenmare) is the dam of the top-class Danewin mare Dane Belltar.
The Group III SAJC Auraria Stakes winner, Dane Belltar, came close to emulating her granddam when second to the outstanding Special Harmony in the VRC Oaks.
Trained by Leon MacDonald Dane Belltar, also placed in the SAJC Australasian Oaks, South Australian Oaks, VRC Wakeful Stakes, SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes, and Birthday Cup.
As good as she was on the track, Dane Belltar exceeded that at stud, producing the MRC Caulfield Cup, VRC Makybe Diva Stakes, and MRC Caulfield Stakes winner Fawkner (Reset), the MRC Herbert Power Stakes, SAJC Adelaide Cup, and MRC Zipping Classic winner Tanby (Galileo), and the Group II-placed Viking Star (Red Ransom).
On October 6 2012, all three put on an exhibition. Viking Star took the opener at Morphettville, Tanby won the Bart Cummings Stakes at Flemington, and Fawkner rounded the meeting off with success in the Tavern Stakes.
Fife failed to emulate her illustrious siblings. Purchased by David Redvers for $650,000 from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the daughter of Starcraft won a Geelong maiden and placed five times (3 metro) from 12 starts.
Stonehouse Thoroughbreds shelled out $60,000 for Fife, carrying a So You Think filly at the National Broodmare Sale. She was covered by Toronado (IRE) last spring.
Fife has had two fillies by Zoustar that have not seen the track.
West of Swindon displayed promise when winning his only barrier trial at Warwick Farm on October 29.
