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...
Closer Look at an Unexpected Success
He is the leading sire of 3YOs so far this season and is set to have a huge impact on the yearling sales of 2026, so we are taking a closer look at this stalwart sire, whose long term impact is only just beginning.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 24
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
425,000 Guinea Frankel Colt Tops Tattersalls December Yearlings
It's the start of a big fortnight of sales in the UK with Tattersalls December kicking off overnight with the yearling session to be followed later this week by Foals and then next week the stellar Mares will be offered, a sale that produced reigning Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina (IRE) in 2023.
Tattersalls December Foal Sale Day 1 -First Season Sires Impress
The four-day Tattersalls December Foal Sale got off to a solid start with two lots by first season sires DRAGON SYMBOL and SHAQUILLE jointly heading proceedings at 75,000 guineas and increases in the turnover, median, average and clearance rate from the equivalent day in 2024.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 25
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
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.
Cambridge Stud Mare Chasing Elusive Stakes Win
Cambridge Stud mare Jaarffi posted yet another stakes placing over the weekend, and trainer Lance Noble is hoping she can be rewarded for her consistency with an elusive black-type victory over summer.
Foals and Yearlings Highlighted for Breednet Premium Stallions
With the foaling season drawing to an end for 2025 and the yearling sales season upon us Breednet have launched a new addition to our Premium stallion pages with a carousel arrangement now available to highlight foals born this spring or yearlings for the 2026 sales.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.