Karaka Graduates Primed for Saturday

Media Release - Friday September 2

Inspirational Girl will commence her spring preparation in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.

The Reliable Man mare’s preparation was hindered by a virus a few weeks ago, but owner Bob Peters said she has fully recovered, but warned that his mare will need the run.

Inspirational Girl winning the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m). Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

"She's back on track but I would think, like most of them, she might need the run," Peters told Racing.com.

Inspirational Girl has had a decorated career on the track to date, winning 10 of her 17 starts, including Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m), and defeating Zaaki in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in autumn.

Advertisement

Peters, who through bloodstock agent John Chalmers purchased Inspirational Girl out of Jamieson Park’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale for $190,000, is eyeing a path towards the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) with his mare.

"We've always thought she could get over some ground and we'll give her a chance this spring,” he said.

“I haven't had the greatest of luck in the Caulfield Cup, but that's where she could end up if she looks as though she'll stay.”

Another Kiwi-bred set to resume at The Valley on Saturday is Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) hero Johnny Get Angry.

Since winning the Classic, owner-trainer Dennis Pagan has had a torrid time with the horse, having just five starts in an injury plagued two year period.

He was last sighted at the races in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last year and Pagan is looking forward to resuming the gelding’s career over a mile this weekend.

"It's just been an absolute nightmare since he won the Derby, things have gone wrong," Pagan told Racing.com.

"He's had throat surgery, he's had a broken rib - that we didn't know about - he's been sore in three or four other spots.

"He had a very good trial four weeks ago at Werribee, I thought 'He's going well this horse', then he had a bacterial virus.

"His bloods are very good, we have to kick off somewhere, so he'll run Saturday and I've got my fingers crossed everything's ok with him.

"He's very happy, and he's sound, his blood's good, he's eating well again, he's very alert - I took him to The Valley on Tuesday morning just to have a look around, he wasn't extended or anything.

"We'll ride him quietly and hopefully he shows that he still wants to be a racehorse."

Pagan purchased Johnny Get Angry out of Bradbury Park’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $50,000. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Darley Announce European Fees 2025
Darley have announced fees on their roster off 22 sires standing in the UK, Ireland and France with Dubawi heading the list at a fee of £350,000 for the third year in a row.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Oaks Pedigree Preview – Who is Bred to Stay?
The $1million Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) is the highlight at Flemington on Thursday and with all of the fillies on trial at the trip, pedigree can be a good indicator and in a field of 14 that features only two stakes-winners and no Group I winners, it could be a year for an upset result.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for Headwater
With a plethora of racing all over Australia on Cup Day there were opportunities aplenty and Vinery Stud’s value sire Headwater made his mark with a new stakes-winner on Perth at Ascot where three year-old filly London’s Image captured the Listed WATC Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m).
Melbourne Cup Winner for Extreme Choice – Rare Slice of History
This year’s $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) produced a genuinely amazing fairytale result for the connections of five year-old Extreme Choice gelding Knight’s Choice, but part of that fairytale is his sire Extreme Choice, who has carved out something seriously special as being only the second sire in history to produce the winner of a Golden Slipper and a Melbourne Cup.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.