Classic superstar Shadow Hero will pursue 3YO Triple Crown glory following a sensational victory in today’s G1 Randwick Guineas on a day where Inglis graduates dominated Stakes racing around Australia.
Trained to perfection by Mark Newnham, Shadow Hero emerged victorious to again assert himself one of the leading 3YOs in a crop touted as arguably the best of the past 25 years.
It was Shadow Hero’s second career G1 success.
Shadow Hero was one of nine Stakes winners for Inglis graduates in Sydney and Melbourne today.
Shadow Hero is a $260,000 Classic Yearling Sale purchase for Sweetbriar Equine, from the Newgate Farm draft.
Newgate Farm’s Henry Field was thrilled for breeders Greg and Donna Kolivos and excited to be offering Shadow Hero’s full sister at next month’s Easter Yearling Sale.
“It’s always great to offer Group 1 winners but it’s even better to sell tough well-bred animals and that’s what this bloke is,’’ Field said.
“He proved himself at two, he continues to prove himself at three and there’s nothing to suggest he won’t continue to prove himself in the future.
“Wait until you see the sister we’ve got coming to Easter. She’s an even better sort than Shadow Hero was as a yearling.’’
Newgate will offer the Pierro x Sookie sister to Shadow Hero as lot 215 at Easter at Riverside Stables on April 7 and 8.
To view the Easter catalogue, CLICK HERE.
Sweetbriar’s David Lui praised trainer Mark Newnham after the win.
“Mark has done a super job with him. Let’s party tonight!’’ an excited Lui said.
“Before the race we were worried about the wet track but he adjusted to it and still won.
“We always thought he would be a very good 3YO. We didn’t think he would be winning races at two, but he did, so to see him winning these big Group 1s at three is very satisfying.
“He’s much more mature this time around. He’ll go to the Rosehill Guineas next and then the Derby.’’
Shadow Hero is one of 43 individual G1 winners offered by Inglis since 2018.
He led the way for Inglis graduates on a day of dominance which also included:
NATURE STRIP – G2 CHALLENGE STAKES
One of the world’s best sprinters, Nature Strip returned to his best with a powerful front-running win in the G2 Challenge Stakes at Randwick.
Rated perfectly by leading jockey James McDonald, the Premier Yearling Sale graduate of Golden Grove achieved what very few horses do – a 13th career win.
Trainer Chris Waller confirmed the 5YO would target the G1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships, before a likely tilt at Royal Ascot in June.
“He’s on track for the TJ…it will take a very good horse to beat him,’’ Waller said.
Nature Strip defeated Redzel in an Inglis graduates quinella.
DAME GISELLE – G2 REISLING STAKES
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Dame Giselle firmed from $11 into $9 for the Golden Slipper following a narrow but impressive win in the G2 Reisling Stakes at Randwick.
Offered at last year’s Easter Yearling Sale by Sledmere Stud, Dame Giselle caught the eye of Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, who purchased her for $500,000.
“She was really popular at Easter which was no surprise because she was and still is a terrific filly,’’ Sledmere’s Royston Murphy said.
“It’s great to have her in the Slipper and coming right at the right time.
“This is the time of year you want your graduates performing on the track, a few weeks out from the Easter Sale. We had a Stakes winner in New Zealand last week, Dame Giselle this week and our Easter draft for this year is phenomenal, so hopefully between the Slipper and the sales it’s a big month ahead.’’
Dame Giselle is raced by Go Bloodstock and China Horse Club, who also bred the filly.
RUBISAKI – G2 KEWNEY STAKES
Rubisaki backed up her Inglis Sprint victory with another strong win in the G2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington.
It was a fabulous result for Joe O’Neill and his Prime Thoroughbreds owners, having purchased the talented filly for $85,000 from breeder Ian Smith’s Edinburgh Park draft at the 2018 Classic Yearling Sale.
“She’s a high-class horse and who knows what her limit is,’’ O’Neill said.
“She’s won six out of eight and should have won eight out of eight with any luck. She’s a star.
“Credit to [trainer] Paddy Payne. You can be a great horseman but not a great trainer but Paddy’s a great horseman and a great trainer.’’
The win took Rubisaki’s prizemoney to $975,000.
LUNAR FOX – G2 SIRES PRODUCE STAKES
Foxwedge colt Lunar Fox led in a trifecta of Inglis graduates when winning the G2 Sires Produce Stakes at Flemington.
The 2YO was bred by Travis and Rebecca Kelly, who purchased the dam Grant’s Moon for just $20,000 at the Great Southern Sale, while she was carrying Lunar Fox.
They offered the colt through their Kelly Thoroughbreds draft at last year’s Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale, where trainers Terry and Karina O’Sullivan purchased him for $40,000.
“This is a huge result for our brand, our first Stakes winner, it’s just awesome,’’ Travis Kelly said.
“When we went to Great Southern in 2017 we were looking for Stakes-winning mares by semi-marketable stallions within our budget and this girl fitted the bill, and the fact she was carrying this fella is a fantastic result.’’
Lunar Fox proved too strong today for Premier Yearling Sale graduates Larimer Street (Brazen Beau) and Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon).
NETTOYER – G3 ASPIRATION QUALITY
Sebring mare Nettoyer has one primary goal this preparation – to win a G1.
She resumed today with a barnstorming last-to-first victory in the G3 Aspiration Quality at Randwick for trainer Wendy Roche.
John Crowley of Chevaux Bloodstock purchased the horse as a yearling for $20,000 at Inglis Easter before breezing her up through the Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
“She’s got a lot of ability, just a very strange brain,’’ Crowley said.
“Wendy does such a good job with her. It’s really only since she’s turned five or six that she’s started to properly mature so hopefully that continues and we can pick up a Group 1 with her later in the autumn or in Brisbane.’’
FASIKA – G3 WENONA GIRL QUALITY
Talented mare Fasika (So You Think) could be tested at G1 level as soon as next start following a comprehensive all-the-way win in today’s G3 Wenona Girl Quality at Randwick.
James Moss of Tricolours Racing and Syndications – who bought the now 4YO for $120,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale from Middlebrook Valley Lodge – confirmed Fasika could contest The Galaxy at Rosehill in a fortnight.
“She was a lovely big strong filly at Easter and she’s continued to mature and develop even now as a 4YO,’’ Moss said.
“She’s bred on that So You Think/Redoute’s Choice cross which was dynamite at the time and still is.
“She’s always been a lovely horse, she’s taken a lot of time but now she’s fully matured she’s the real deal so we’re looking forward to a good prep with her.
“We’ll see what happens but The Galaxy or the Birthday Card Stakes on Slipper day, she’ll likely contest one of those next time.’’
WILD PLANET – LISTED MARCH STAKES
Inglis Guineas winner Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom) scored the most comfortable win of his career with an effortless victory in the Listed March Stakes at Flemington.
Trained by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, Wild Planet could now be tested in the G1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April.
He’s a good horse. You know what he is? He’s a winner, and that’s the type of horse you want,’’ co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said.
Wild Planet, a half brother to Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth, is a $280,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Hawkes Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock, from the Arrowfield Stud draft.
SANGRIA – LISTED BELLMAINE STAKES
An “electric filly with one of the deepest pedigrees in this country’’, Sangria continued to live up to her connections’ high opinion of her with a first Stakes success in the Listed Bellmaine Stakes at Flemington.
James Harron, who purchased the now 3YO filly for $650,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2018 Easter Yearling Sale, said: “She’s had seven starts but she’s still learning her craft but today was very exciting to get that black type for her.
“She’s a very progressive filly, an outstanding type and a filly Peter and Paul have always had a huge opinion of.
“Whether we keep going with her now or come back for another preparation, that will all be decided in coming weeks.’’
