Prepared by Team Hawkes, Inference has always shown Group I potential and was an unlucky third in the Group I VRC Victoria Derby last spring behind class colt Prized Icon.
A good fifth when resuming from a spell in the Group II ATC Hobartville Stakes over 1400 metres last month, Inference relished the step up in distance to produce a sustained finishing burst.
Tommy Berry guided Inference (images Steve Hart ) through a narrow opening on the outside fence and while skimming the outside hedge, he charged to a short neck victory over gallant I Am Invincible filly Invincible Gem, who led everywhere bar at the post.
"He's always been a good horse," said Berry.
"He's so clean winded, he'll just stay all day."
The Group I ATC Australian Derby next month is the ultimate goal for Inference,
who has won four of nine starts earning over $840,000 in prizemoney."He's a super horse in the making," said co-trainer Michael Hawkes.
"He really wasn't ready for today. He's a superstar, he's a Rockstar.
"He's so immature. He doesn't know the ability he's got.
"Rosehill Guineas now then onto the (Australian) Derby."
Retained to race by his breeders, Inference (pictured below as a foal at Coolmore in 2013) was foaled, raised and broken in at Coolmore and is the first foal of Group II placed Redoute's Choice mare Pontiana.
A full sister to stakes-winner Grand Jardin from stakes-winning Royal Academy (USA) mare Liberty Rose, Inference has a two year-old filly by Pierro, a yearling filly by So You Think and produced another colt by Pierro last spring.
She is now in foal to Golden Slipper winner Vancouver.
A charismatic champion and dual Cox Plate winner, So You Think covered 188 mares last spring at a fee of $49,500 and is now the leading Australian Second Season sire by earnings and stakes-winners.
Inference is his fourth stakes-winner and second Group I winner joining his star Kiwi bred filly La Bella Diosa, who won the Group II ATC Surround Stakes last Saturday.
