Gilgai Farm Bred and Sold Nepotism Another Inglis G1 Star

Media Release - Sunday April 20

Outstanding colt Nepotism (Brutal) scored one of the most remarkable G1 wins by a 2YO on an Australian racetrack in recent memory, coming from last to secure a last-stride victory in today’s Champagne Stakes at Randwick.

Trained by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, Nepotism drew barrier 11 in today’s feature and jockey Tyler Schiller had little option but to go back to last.

But it mattered little as the colt showed an extraordinary turn of foot to run down fellow Inglis graduate Within The Law in the final stride to secure his future at stud as a G1-winning 2YO colt.

The win comes a fortnight after fellow Inglis graduate and hugely valuable colt Vinrock won the G1 Inglis Sires on Day 1 of The Championships.

Nepotism was a $160,000 Inglis Premier purchase.

International Thoroughbred Solutions’ Mark Player purchased Nepotism (pictured) for $160,000 - on behalf of Neil Werrett, Colin Madden and the Ole Kirk team - at the Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by his breeder Gilgai Farm.

Nepotism becomes the 106th individual G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018 and the third individual G1-winning 2YO Inglis graduate in the past two seasons.

Nepotism is from a famous family and is now one of the most valuable colts in Australian racing – his dam Brigite is a half sister to champion undefeated sprinter Black Caviar and G1-winning stallion All Too Hard.

Player wasn’t at Randwick today but was “gobsmacked’’ by what he saw in Nepotism’s performance.

“You just don’t see 2YOs do that,’’ an elated Player said.

“To do it the way he did, coming from last, it just doesn’t happen like that with 2YOs.

“He’s a pretty special sort of horse from a great family and what a great breeder Gilgai is, they just keep producing great animals.

“Neil (Werrett) and his team are such a great group of people and what a thrill this is, my first 2YO Group 1 winner.’’

Nepotism charged from last to first - image Bradley Photography

Gilgai’s Rick Jamieson and Kelly Skillecorn watch the Champagne Stakes together on the Victorian property this afternoon and were blown away with the result.

“He’s some horse isn’t he. He keeps our record going that every Group 1 winner Gilgai has bred has been sold through Inglis, it’s a heck of a partnership,’’ Skillecorn said.

Advertisement

“This family just keeps producing, it’s unreal. The world’s his oyster this colt. He could go to a Cox Plate off what he did today, All Too Hard obviously ran 2nd in a Cox Plate, wouldn’t that be some story if Nepotism could go and run one better.’’

Winning co-trainer Michael Hawkes added: “He’s just a proper horse. When he was out the back, they were running along and I was just thinking ‘wow, are they going hard enough?’ But he’s just blistering with an exceptional turn of foot. Last to first, unbelievable.

“Neil Werrett and his partners, they’ve just been so patient. His win in the Baillieu was outstanding, we just love making colts, it’s just one thing we love doing.’’

Nepotism has now won $750,000 in prizemoney and is worth many times more than that as a stallion prospect.

Also at Randwick today Mazu (Maurice) took his career earnings past the $9m barrier when winning the G3 Hall Mark Stakes.

The 6YO is a nine-time winner and has proved an incredible investment by his owners – Triple Crown bought him for $180,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by his breeder Parsons Creek.

Trained by Joe Pride, Mazu will now likely head to Brisbane for the winter carnival.

Triple Crown’s Sam Manion said: “Fantastic. It’s a great thrill. Joe’s done a great job with him too. He’s in elite company now winning $9m prizemoney. It’s unbelievable.’’

It capped off a big day for Triple Crown, whose Easter Yearling Sale 3YO Firm Agreement (Yes Yes Yes) finished 2nd in the G3 Frank Packer Plate on his way to the G1 Queensland Derby.

And in New Zealand untapped 2YO Little Black Dress (Snitzel) remained unbeaten with a strong victory in the Listed Star Way Stakes at Ellerslie.

The Stephen Marsh-trained filly is a $240,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Go Racing and Blandford Bloodstock from the draft of her breeder Arrowfield.

Little Black Dress has now won both her career starts in impressive fashion.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut HK 2YO Winner for Brutal and a G1 Favourite
With his oldest progeny just three year-olds, Newgate Farm’s Doncaster Mile winning sire Brutal has been ticking along nicely, but it’s a couple of two year-olds from his second crop that have him in the news on Sunday with a debut winner at Sha Tin and a super talented colt that is now a clear favourite for next week’s $1million Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
Helsinge Family Strikes Again in G1 Champagne
From a clear last at the top of the straight to what seemed an unlikely first at the winning post, exciting Brutal colt Nepotism produced a scintillating performance to win the $1million Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.