A plethora of Spring Carnival features are on the horizon for a host of Inglis graduates who resumed in winning style at Randwick today.
Trainer Matthew Smith will plot a path towards the $20m The Everest with brilliant sprinter Buenos Noches (Supido) following his devastating first-up victory in the G3 Show County Quality.
While yet to officially secure a slot, Buenos Noches did his best to alert slot holders that he’s an emerging star with a come-from-behind demolition against a quality field today.
Just a $40,000 Classic Yearling Sale buy for Smith out of the Widden Stud draft – who bred the horse with Bill Duncan - Buenos Noches (pictured) will now aim to secure his position in the world’s richest race on turf, at Randwick on October 14.
“He’s a talented horse and we were hoping he’d come out and do that today so now hopefully we can end up with an Everest slot,’’ Smith said.
“We’ve had a couple of nibbles [from slot holders] but we haven’t hooked anything yet so we’ll see what happens. People will consider him more now for sure.
“Everyone who’s been on him has said ‘this is a Group 1 horse in the making’ yet we got him for only $40,000 at Inglis Classic. [Wife] Mel and I look at all the First Season Sires and try to buy a few cheapies and he was on the list so thank God we bought him.’’
Meanwhile tenacious filly Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun) will continue on the Darley Princess Series path following a tough first-up win in today’s opening leg of the series, the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Autumn Ballet led in a First 4 for Inglis graduates in the 3YO fillies’ feature defeating Estriella, the fast-finishing Kimochi and Mumbai Muse.
Today’s was a second Stakes win for Autumn Ballet from just three career starts, having become the first horse in history to win the G3 Black Opal Stakes on debut back in March as a 2YO.
“She made quite a statement on debut, she showed a lot of natural ability on that day and has obviously come back in good shape,’’ winning co-trainer Bott said.
“She’s got scope to keep improving, particularly as we get over a bit further. I thought the only concern coming into today is this preparation she might be looking for that 1400m-1600m so she’s certainly right on track to keep going through this Princess Series.’’
The next leg of the Princess Series is the G2 Furious Stakes (1200m) on September 2, followed by the G2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and G1 Flight Stakes (1600m).
Waterhouse and Bott teamed up with Bruce Slade of Kestrel Thoroughbreds to purchase Autumn Ballet for $340,000 at last year’s Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by her breeder Arrowfield.
Earlier on today’s Randwick program, the domination of Inglis Digital graduates continued when Hosier (Camelot) made light work of his opposition in winning the G3 Premier’s Cup.
Trainer Mark Minervini bought Hosier for $100,000 in the May (Late) Online Sale this year, where he was offered as part of a Hudson Conway reduction.
In just four starts since, Hosier has won his new connections $180,000 and today’s victory was the first at Randwick for trainer Minervini.
“He came to me in great order and I knew that he was a quality horse,’’ Minervini said.
“I’d like to have bought another four or five of them. That’s job done now for him, he’s won that Saturday race now so we’ll nominate him for everything in the Spring now, the Newcastle Cup, the Wyong Cup, the Caulfield Cup, we’ll find a race for him somewhere.’’
Graduates of Inglis Digital won 1 in 5 races contested in Australia in the 2022/23 season and have started the new season off in similar dominance.
The August (Late) Sale is live now at inglisdigital.com, with the final countdown of bidding starting at 10am Wednesday.
While on Inglis Digital, Lady Brook (Hinchinbrook) – who finished 3rd in today’s G3 Toy Show Quality at Randwick behind Parisal and Queen of the Ball - is being offered in the August (Late) Sale, which is now open for bidding.
Offered as lot 86 in the race fillies section, the Joe Pride-trained Lady Brook is a six-time winner and has more Spring goals in sight following her huge run today.
To place a bid on Lady Brook CLICK HERE.
