Robusto a Fitting Winner of $2million G2 Ingham

Tara Madgwick - Saturday December 14

It only seems fitting that a horse bred by the Ingham family, who started his racing career in the famed cerise should go on and win the $2million Group II ATC Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, a race formerly known as the Villiers and re-named in honour of the late Jack Ingham and his family, who remain passionate about thoroughbreds and all things racing.

Robusto wins the $2million G2 Ingham  - image Steve Hart

A five year-old gelding by Churchill (IRE), Robusto was trained by Chris Waller for the first part of his career and won six metro races in the cerise before he was offered through Inglis Digital Online September (early) this year where he was bought by Darby Racing for $160,000 and transferred to Bjorn Baker.

He was having his fifth start in his new colours and put the writing on the wall last start when second to Private Eye in the Listed ATC Festival Stakes.

With Tim Clark to ride and barrier four, Robusto found conditions to suit and produced a career best performance to win by a long neck taking his overall earnings beyond $1.8million!

“Yeah, he went well and as the guys were saying, he just hadn't been able to draw a barrier until today. That was all important,” Clark said.

"He jumped great, sort of probably put him a bit closer than maybe expected, but he was happy being there. I wasn't going to take that away from him. Obviously following the right horses, it was just a matter of being patient on him.

"I didn't want to expose him too soon. But the leader I'mintowin and Gringotts just weren't quite taking me far enough, the gap came and he dashed through really well and pinned his ears back late. Great to win this race."

Robusto did his early racing in the Ingham cerise and won over $600,000, click to see his page on Inglis Digital.

The success of Robusto capped a memorable day for Darby Racing, who earlier in the day had the quinella in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery courtesy of Within the Law and Cobra Club.

"Scott Darby and his team, they're freaks at buying yearlings, tried horses, it doesn't matter. They find the right horses and he's done an amazing job this time,” said Luke Hilton, representing Bjorn Baker.

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"He hasn't had any luck and he finally drew a gate today. It paid dividends with a great ride by Tim. He was an outstanding run (in the Festival), three wide, no cover and had a poor gate. He really stuck on well."

"There were question marks with him at the mile, but when he came up with gate four, we were confident that he was going well. He just had to run out a strong mile and Tim gave him an absolute peach of a ride."

Robusto, now a G2 winner - image Steve Hart

Robusto was foaled and raised at Coolmore for the Ingham family and was also broken in and educated at their Jerry’s Plains farm.

He is the third foal and first winner for Group III winning Redoute’s Choice mare She’s Clean, who was bought by the Ingham family for $300,000 from the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.  She was also trained by Chris Waller and went on to win over $700,000 on the track.

She’s Clean is a blue-blood being closely related to Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mares Abbey Marie and Absolutely as well as dual Group I winning $2.2million earner Nettoyer.

She’s Clean has fillies by Flying Artie and Maurice (Jpn) to follow and produced a colt by Justify (USA) this spring.

Robusto is the 30th stakes-winner worldwide for Churchill, who has just finished his seventh season in Australia for Coolmore.

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Race Result - The Ingham Gr2 1600m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:34.14
1
Robusto
- 5g Churchill (IRE) x She's Clean (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Tim Clark 54
Churchill
2
0.3
Steparty
- 4g Artie Schiller (USA) x Watch Your Step (AUS) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54.5
3
1
Encap
- 4g Capitalist (AUS) x Enquare (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Rachel King 54.5
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Newhaven Park, Boorowa
Buyer: Passed in - $ 200,000
4
1.7
Private Eye
- 7g Al Maher (AUS) x Confidential Queen (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: N Rawiller 61
5
2
Rustic Steel
- 7g Deep Field (AUS) x Ten Carat Rock (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J Parr 57.5
6
2.1
Coastwatch
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Bullion Mansion (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54
7
2.2
Osipenko
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Raskova (USA) (Henrythenavigator (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Reece Jones 54
8
2.7
Poison Chalice
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Urban (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: J R Collett 54
9
2.8
Lekvarte
- 6m Reliable Man (GB) x Plumm (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: C Schofield 54.5
10
3.1
Xidaki
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Athanea (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Peter Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
11
4
New Energy
- 6g New Bay (GB) x For Joy (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Dylan Browne McMonagle 56.5
12
4
Waterford
- 6g Awtaad (IRE) x Wake Up (GER) (Soldier Of Fortune (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
13
4.2
Gringotts
- 5g Per Incanto (USA) x Miss Bluebell (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Tommy Berry 60.5
14
4.3
Lion's Roar
- 7g Contributer (IRE) x Minnaleo (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: Billy Loughnane 54.5
15
4.3
Port Lockroy
- 4h Better Than Ready (AUS) x Freezethemillions (AUS) (Freeze (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Tyler Schiller 58
16
4.6
I'mintowin
- 5g Contributer (IRE) x Beguile (NZ) (Castledale (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Ms W Costin 53
17
4.6
Spangler
- 7g Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Sixpenny Sweets (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Zac Wadick 53
18
5.4
Estadio Mestalla
- 6g Galileo Gold (GB) x Superior Charm (USA) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J Ford 53
19
5.5
Mighty Ulysses
- 6g Ulysses (IRE) x Token Of Love (GB) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Harry Davies 57
20
12.9
Suparazi
- 6g Super One (AUS) x Arazi Belle (AUS) (Arazi (USA))
Tnr: Ben Brisbourne Rdr: B Spriggs 54
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