Widden Stud Bred and Sold El Morzillo wins $1million Inglis Sprint

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 1

A $50,000 Classic Yearling Sale purchase from the Widden Stud draft, Star Witness filly El Morzillo won the $1m Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington today as Kelly Schweida delivered a fairytale result for connections.

Things didn’t start well for El Morzillo, who missed the start for jockey Craig Williams and settled second last but she showed an amazing turn of speed down the Flemington straight to score a strong victory in the feature.

El Morzillo wins the Inglis Sprint - image Grant Courtney

It was a second career win for El Morzillo – who also contested last year’s $2m Inglis Millennium - from 12 starts and took her earnings to $971,000.

It’s been an incredible ride for the ownership group after Schweida paid just $50,000 for El Morzillo at the 2023 Classic Yearling Sale, where she was offered by her breeder Widden Stud.

“It’s a great result for the owners, we targeted this race a long way out because it’s crazy money on offer,’’ Schweida said.

“It’s a really good incentive, Inglis do a great job, their Race Series is fantastic.

“To win a race like this, it’s amazing, it’s great for the owners, it keeps them going, they keep reinvesting and they’ll be at the Premier Sale the next few days going again.’’

The Queenslanders get the cash with El Morzillo - image Grant Courtney

Widden will offer El Morzillo’s Dirty Work half sister (ex Avocado) as lot 50 at Oaklands tomorrow on Day 1 of the Premier Yearling Sale.

Widden’s Antony Thompson said of the relation: “She’s a lovely filly, nice pedigree, before today she was a really attractive proposition on pedigree and type alone anyway.

“She’s a filly that would stand out regardless but today’s result really increases the focus and the attention that she’ll receive tomorrow.’’

The filly is also a half-sister to the very smart Hong Kong based 4YO Steps Ahead, who runs in the Hong Kong Classic Cup on Sunday, the second leg of the 4YO Triple Crown.  

The half-sister by Dirty Work to El Morzillo, click to see her page.

To view the Premier Sale catalogue CLICK HERE.

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Schweida also wins a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars for being the winning trainer of an Inglis Race Series event.

Today’s victory saw Schweida jump into equal second position in the Inglis Race Series Theault Trainers’ Challenge.

That battle now heads to the next race in the series, the Inglis Challenge at Scone in May.

Today’s Inglis Sprint third placegetter Hot Digity Boom ensured his owners enjoyed a huge pay day too by being the first Inglis Pink Bonus-eligible runner home.

In doing so, connections won the $200,000 bonus attached to the race which, on top of their third-place prizemoney, saw them take home an incredible $290,000.

“It’s amazing, what a scheme. To come here and win $200,000 for running third, plus $90,000 for the prizemoney, it’s outstanding. It’s like winning a Group 1,’’ Hot Digity Boom’s part owner Shona Drechsler said.

“This is my biggest win ever in ownership and we didn’t even win the race! I was pretty much screaming my lungs out!’’

Off the track, Peta Tait won a $500 cash card for being the strapper of the Best Turned Out horse ahead of the sprint, Daggers, from the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable.

Inglis Bloodstock Consultant Sinead Flannery judged Daggers to be the best presented horse for the $1m sprint.

The Best Turned Out Award is won ahead of every race in the Inglis Race Series and is a reward for the strappers who work so hard in the industry

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Race Result - Inglis Sprint 1200m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:10.11
1
El Morzillo
- 3f Star Witness (AUS) x Avocado (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Craig Williams 55
2
0.8
Daggers
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Omei Sword (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Ethan Brown 58
3
1.3
Hot Digity Boom
- 3g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Queen Of The Falls (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M J Dee 57
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $150,000
Seller: Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld (As Agent)
Buyer: Livistona Grazing Company
4
1.6
Scintilla
- 3f Hellbent (AUS) x Crystal Whip (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: L J Bridge Rdr: Jordan Childs 55
5
1.6
Certain Rise
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Concubine (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
6
2.6
Reserve Bank
- 3c Capitalist (AUS) x Our Songbird (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: L Currie 57
7
3.1
My Zephyr
- 3f Street Boss (USA) x My Option (AUS) (Danerich (AUS))
Tnr: Mick Shepherdson Rdr: D Yendall 55
8
4.1
Immortal Star
- 3f I Am Immortal (AUS) x Tuskar Brook (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: J Mott 56
9
4.1
Princess Que
- 3f Toronado (IRE) x She's On Que (AUS) (Uncle Mo (USA))
Tnr: Simon Zahra Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 55.5
10
4.2
Rue De Royale
- 3c Per Incanto (USA) x Urban Royal (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: H Coffey 57
11
4.5
Satin Stiletto
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Satin Slipper (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: D W Stackhouse 55
12
5.3
Midnight Dynamite
- 3g Pierata (AUS) x Talented Miss (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: B Melham 57
13
5.5
Odinson
- 3g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Jamie Melham 58.5
14
6.3
Hedonist
- 3g Headwater (AUS) x Tango Fire (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Tom Dabernig Rdr: M Zahra 57
15
9
Beer Baron
- 3g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Ice Cold Crownie (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: N J Osborne Rdr: Beau Mertens 57
16
9.2
Lavender Glory
- 3f Written By (AUS) x Satin Sashes (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: D Moor 55
17
9.4
Winning Proposal
- 3f Shalaa (IRE) x Proposal (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ms K Buchanan Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
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