Favourite Needs to Channel Takeover Target in $2mil The Ingham

Craig Tompson - Friday December 13

If the favourite Gringotts is to win the $2million The Ingham (G2) at Randwick this weekend he’s going to need to be nearly as good as Takeover Target and better than any other Ingham runner in 20 years.

Gringotts winning The Gong. Photo: Steve Hart.

There’s plenty to like about the five-year-old son of Per Incanto. He’s won nine and placed seven times in 17 starts, he’s unbeaten in four starts at the mile and he’s coming off a heavily backed win in the $1million The Gong.

He’s also got 60.5kg.

That’d be 7.5kg over the limit weight. No winner has done it in the last 20 years.

Advertisement

The highest weighted winner in that period is Monton with 58kg, on a 52kg limit so 6kg over that base weight.

Here’s the last 20 winners with their weight and the amount over the limit in brackets. All of this information is available in our Stakes Result section here. And here is The Ingham specifically (or Villiers Stakes as it is officially registered).

2023 Loch Eagle 53 (0)

2022 Kirwan's Lane 57 (4)
2021 Brutality 53 (0)
2020 Greysful Glamour (M) 56 (3)
2019 Quackerjack 56 (3)
2018 Sky Boy 53 (0)
2017 Crack Me Up 54.5 (1.5)
2016 Sense Of Occasion 54 (1)
2015 Happy Clapper 53 (0)
2014 Rudy 53 (0)
2013 Ninth Legion 54.5 (1.5)
2012 All Legal 54 (1)
2011 Monton 58 (6)
2010 Dances On Waves 52 (0)
2009 Palacio De Cristal 52 (0)
2008 Something Anything 54.5 (2.5)
2007 Honor In War 54.5 (2.5)
2006 Utzon 57.5 (5.5)
2005 Aqua D'Amore 52.5 (0.5)

And where does the Takeover Target comparison come from?

Well he carried 61kg in the 2008 version, a whopping 9kg over the limit and was first past the post, however lost it in the steward’s room to Honor In War.

So if Gringotts can win this year, it’ll be a mighty effort.

It’ll also be another great result for his sire Per Incanto, enjoying his best year ever in Australia, currently in the top 10 by earnings with 23 winners, three stakes winners and over $5.7million.

This historical perspective applies to crowd favourite Private Eye also of course.

So it does give hope of a big odds winner.

Estadio Mestalla? Port Lockroy? Tavi Time? New Energy? Superazi?

Good luck.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2026 Magic Millions Order of Entry 2YO and 3YO Updated
Racing Queensland have today released order of entry updates for the rich $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas to be run at the Gold Coast on January 17 with last week’s three 2YO debutants coming into the top 10.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Tara Talks Racing - The Christmas Episode
A quickie to end the year and wish our listeners a very happy Christmas as we pick apart the Magic Millions contenders that have jumped out of the woodwork in the past week, who do we like heading into the Christmas break?    
New SW for Per Incanto - Gringotts Wins at Doomben
New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts took his promising career to new heights in Brisbane on Saturday with a first black-type success in the A$160,000 Listed Sky Racing Members’ Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 21
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Monday December 22
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Widden Produce the Magic Winners
The beauty of buying a Magic Millions yearling is their eligibility for a rich program of races scheduled around the country and no farm has a better record for producing the winners of these races than Widden Stud with Unit Five the latest name added to the list.
Sword of State Yearlings to Lure Buyers to Karaka
Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by yet another highly promising two-year-old when the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven ran out an impressive winner of the TAB Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud Looking Forwards to 2026 with Sword of State
Young Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State has landed another timely winning blow across the Tasman.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.