Favourite Needs to Channel Takeover Target in $2mil The Ingham

Craig Tompson - Friday December 13

If the favourite Gringotts is to win the $2million The Ingham (G2) at Randwick this weekend he’s going to need to be nearly as good as Takeover Target and better than any other Ingham runner in 20 years.

Gringotts winning The Gong. Photo: Steve Hart.

There’s plenty to like about the five-year-old son of Per Incanto. He’s won nine and placed seven times in 17 starts, he’s unbeaten in four starts at the mile and he’s coming off a heavily backed win in the $1million The Gong.

He’s also got 60.5kg.

That’d be 7.5kg over the limit weight. No winner has done it in the last 20 years.

Advertisement

The highest weighted winner in that period is Monton with 58kg, on a 52kg limit so 6kg over that base weight.

Here’s the last 20 winners with their weight and the amount over the limit in brackets. All of this information is available in our Stakes Result section here. And here is The Ingham specifically (or Villiers Stakes as it is officially registered).

2023 Loch Eagle 53 (0)

2022 Kirwan's Lane 57 (4)
2021 Brutality 53 (0)
2020 Greysful Glamour (M) 56 (3)
2019 Quackerjack 56 (3)
2018 Sky Boy 53 (0)
2017 Crack Me Up 54.5 (1.5)
2016 Sense Of Occasion 54 (1)
2015 Happy Clapper 53 (0)
2014 Rudy 53 (0)
2013 Ninth Legion 54.5 (1.5)
2012 All Legal 54 (1)
2011 Monton 58 (6)
2010 Dances On Waves 52 (0)
2009 Palacio De Cristal 52 (0)
2008 Something Anything 54.5 (2.5)
2007 Honor In War 54.5 (2.5)
2006 Utzon 57.5 (5.5)
2005 Aqua D'Amore 52.5 (0.5)

And where does the Takeover Target comparison come from?

Well he carried 61kg in the 2008 version, a whopping 9kg over the limit and was first past the post, however lost it in the steward’s room to Honor In War.

So if Gringotts can win this year, it’ll be a mighty effort.

It’ll also be another great result for his sire Per Incanto, enjoying his best year ever in Australia, currently in the top 10 by earnings with 23 winners, three stakes winners and over $5.7million.

This historical perspective applies to crowd favourite Private Eye also of course.

So it does give hope of a big odds winner.

Estadio Mestalla? Port Lockroy? Tavi Time? New Energy? Superazi?

Good luck.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 15
Here is the full list of 110 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 Inglis Classic Sire Break Up and Vendor Representation
The 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is now online with 798 yearlings which is pretty much on on a par with last year’s 805 and if you believe variety is the spice of life this catalogue is going to make you happy.
2026 Inglis Classic Now Online
The catalogue for the 2026 Classic Yearling Sale – the fastest growing success story of the Southern Hemisphere’s early-season auctions – is now available online.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 16
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Star Sprinter Jokers Grin Plays Winning Hand
On a big, boisterous opening day of The Pinnacles carnival at a packed out Ascot racecourse, WA’s reigning Horse Of The Year Jokers Grin was definitely the headline act.
New SW for Per Incanto - Gringotts Wins at Doomben
New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts took his promising career to new heights in Brisbane on Saturday with a first black-type success in the A$160,000 Listed Sky Racing Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
Star WA Mare Storyville on Track for G1 Railway
Quality four year old mare Storyville (Overshare) collected her third stakes win and slammed the door of the Last Chance Saloon shut on a couple of potential Railway Stakes rivals in the G3 RJ Peters Stakes 1500m at Ascot.
Bivouac Filly Wins $500,000 Placid Ark Stakes - G1 Possible
Worth a whopping $500,000, the Listed WATC Placid Ark Stakes (1100m) for three year-olds was the richest race on the program at Ascot on Saturday and the short priced favourite Luana Miss scored an impressive win.
Almanzor Mare Back on Track
Classy mare Mary Shan has black-type targets on her agenda after bouncing back to winning form in Saturday’s Happy Hire Cup (1400m) at Tauranga.