Scott Darby never dreamed he and his owners would be winning a $2m race with Robusto (Churchill) when he bought him for $160,000 on Inglis Digital just four months ago.
But that’s exactly what happened at Randwick today when the 5YO scored a thrilling victory in the feature G2 The Ingham.
Robusto (pictured) was already a six-time city winner for his previous trainer Chris Waller and the Ingham family, who bred the horse, when Darby purchased him online in the September (Early) Sale.
He has now raced five times for trainer Bjorn Baker and his new connections and won $1,226,250 in prizemoney.
“Robusto was a sound horse that had been well looked after by Chris [Waller] and with Bjorn Baker’s touch, he’s done it with a tried horse again for us. It’s unbelievable, terrific,’’ Darby said.
“It’s a great platform Inglis Digital, each and every sale there’s always something there.
“We’re always looking for those higher end horses there on Inglis Digital to bolster the team and they’re always there to be found. I’m rapt.
“The platform is that good, if you do your homework there’s some great ones to target, horses that might need gelding, horses coming from big syndicates or big stables, this is what we got our hands on and now we’ve won a $2m race with him four months after buying him.’’
Robusto’s win capped off a huge day for the Darby Racing team, who also owned the quinella in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery in Within The Law and Cobra Club.
“It’s enormous, these are the days you dream about as an owner and a syndicator,’’ Darby said.
“Our partnership with Bjorn has become lethal, it’s amazing. What he can do with either the tried horses or the yearlings we give him to train is unbelievable, he just keeps churning out the winners for us.’’
Also at Randwick today the consistent 5YO Jedibeel (Savabeel) scored a deserved first Stakes victory when winning the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap.
The Brad Widdup-trained gelding has been a model of consistency for his connections, with his 17 career starts netting seven wins and seven minor placings for $530,000 in earnings.
Widdup purchased the Waikato Stud-bred Jedibeel for $190,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Cannon Hayes Stud.
Jedibeel races in the colours of Mike Gregg and his grandson Lachlan Sheridan, who works at the Widdup stables.
