Ingratiating Overpowers Them in Vain Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday August 14

Striking Frosted (USA) colt Ingratiating made an exciting start to his three-year-old campaign with a last to first performance in Saturday’s Group III Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Ingratiating overpowers them (Image Reg Ryan/Racing photos)

Damien Oliver allowed the Godolphin homebred to ease back from an outside barrier. Given a rev up before the home turn, Ingratiating came widest of all around the bend. Keeping up a relentless gallop,  Ingratiating was strong to the line in defeating the Brazen Beau colt General Beau by a length with the heavily backed Snitzel colt Generation a short-head back in third.

Among the best of his generation at two, Ingratiating advanced his record to three wins, three seconds and a third from eight starts with earnings of $978,750.

Oliver said that Ingratiating had made pleasing physical improvement.

“He’s developed nicely. He has definitely filled out a bit which is what you want to see from two to three,” Oliver said.

“It’s not easy when they have had a busy season, especially when they don’t get a big break in-between.

“They have not been making up much ground so far today. He settled back off them. They quickened around the bend, but halfway down the straight I did not have to pick him up with the whip and he won nicely.

“There are a lot of options for him. He is essentially a sprinter. From 1200m to 1400m is probably his best distance.

“There has always been little between him and Anamoe. I’ve felt that this horse is probably a little more precocious than Anamoe who came into his own when he got to 1400m.

“I’ve always had a lot of time for this horse.

Ingratiating (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

The James Cummings-trained colt danced every dance at two. He followed his debut win with seconds in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate and Group III Chairman's Stakes before winning the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington.

After splitting Artorius and Anamoe in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, Ingratiating missed a place for the first time when a troubled fifth, beaten just over a length, in the Group III Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill.

A fortnight later, Ingratiating finished third behind Stay Inside and Anamoe in the Golden Slipper.

Ingratiating is the best of four winners from as many to race out of the Lonhro mare Obsequious, winner of the Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes and Group III San Domenico Stakes.

Obsequious was purchased by Eddie Hirsch for $27,500 from the Godolphin draft offered at the 2020 Inglis July (Early) Online Sale.

She was carrying a full-brother to Ingratiating and was bred back to Russian Revolution last spring.

Learn more about the breeding of ingratiating here.

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Vain Stakes Gr3 1100m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:03.97
1
Ingratiating
- 3c Frosted (USA) x Obsequious (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 57
2
1.0
General Beau
- 3c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Phosphorescence (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Damian Lane 58
3
1.1
Generation
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Fontiton (AUS) (Turffontein (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
4
1.3
Mr Mozart
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Euro Angel (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
5
2.8
Direct
- 3c Siyouni (FR) x Upfront (USA) (War Front (USA))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: J Bowditch 56
6
3.8
Lightsaber
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Dream Cirque (AUS) (Dream Ahead (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: L Nolen 58
7
6.0
Cecil Street Lad
- 3g Bobby's Kitten (USA) x Just A Girl (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Laming Rdr: L Currie 56
More Reading...
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Best On Breeding
It did not take long for Eddie Hirsch to learn he had made a rare bargain with the purchase of the stakes-winning Lonhro mare Obsequious from the Godolphin draft offered at the 2020 Inglis July (Early) Online Sale.
Ingratiating Strikes in Bletchingly Stakes
The two class acts, Ingratiating and General Beau, fought out the finish of Saturday's $200,000 Group III Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Blue Diamond Next for Frosted's Ingratiating
Won in the last two years by Ole Kirk and Microphone the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington has been the springboard to success for the likes of Miss Finland, Star Witness and All Too Hard.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.