The prospect of the $1m Inglis Classic Bonus going off increased and Maluka Thoroughbreds received the perfect boost on the eve of the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
That was the wash-up from another strong day of racing as Inglis graduates again dominated the 2YO scene.
Fresh from Written By winning last weekend's Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, fellow Melbourne Premier graduateSeabrook (Hinchinbrook x Midnight Revels)confirmed her Golden Slipper berth with a strong win in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Rosehill.
And 40 minutes earlierSantos (I Am Invincible x Ghaliah)made it back-to-back victories with a gritty victory in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes.
Santos led in a trifecta of Inglis graduates, beating Spin (I Am Invincible) and Legend Of Condor (Not A Single Doubt).
Santos' victory has made for an extra-nervous three weeks for Emirates Park, who stand to win a $1m bonus should Santos win the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill in three weeks.
Inglis introduced the bonus – split between the named vendor and supplier - at last year's Classic Yearling Sale for any horse sold at the sale that went on to win the 2018 Golden Slipper.
Emirates Park was both the vendor and supplier of Santos, so stand to win the entire bonus to themselves should the son of I Am Invincible win at Rosehill in three weeks' time.
Emirates Park's Bryan Carlson described the Inglis bonus as "an amazing initiative''.
"There's a lot that needs to fall into place for us to get that extra $1m from Inglis but Gai and Adrian have said all along there is still plenty of improvement left in this colt moving forward,'' Carlson said.
"To have bred him, offered him, sold him and kept a share in him to race, it's a great thrill for everyone involved.''
Santos was an $180,000 buy for his trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott from Emirates Park at last year's Classic Sale.
Other Classic graduates who stand to activate the $1m bonus include Fiesta, Setsuna and Spin.
Meanwhile Seabrook's win was a great boon for Luke and Maggs Anderson of Maluka Thoroughbreds on the eve of this year's Premier Yearling Sale, which begins tomorrow.
The Anderson's offered Seabrook (pictured) – who Blueblood Thoroughbreds bought for $85,000 – and have a 33-strong draft this year.
"We're really happy with our draft, it's been well received so we can't wait for the sale to begin,'' Luke Anderson said.
"Seabrook is a quality filly. She should have been in the Blue Diamond but didn't qualify after being horribly unlucky in the Prelude, but I guess the Slipper will be a nice replacement!''
The 2018 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale begins Sunday at Oaklands Junction and runs for four days.
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