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.
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."
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.
"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 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.
