The richest race in Australia on Saturday was the $3million Magic Millions Sunlight Plate (1100m), a slot race at the Sunshine Coast for three year-olds and the winner Private Harry had a very distinct Inglis flavour to him being a $115,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Rheinwood Pastoral, who will consign his yearling half-brother to the same sale next month.
Trained by Nathan Doyle and ridden by Ashley Morgan, Private Harry was selected to run in the B2B Thoroughbreds slot after winning his first three race starts at Hawkesbury, Newcastle and Rosehill through November and December.
His wins have been impressive, but nobody thought he could seriosuly upstage the race favourite Lady of Camelot, who won the Group I ATC Golden Slipper last year and was last seen finishing third in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes following a brave fourth in The Everest.
Ashley Morgan gave the son of Harry Angel (IRE) the run of the race, while Blake Shinn gave Lady of Camelot a less than perfect ride which saw her cluttered up on the fence until it was too late.
Private Harrry stole a march to win by two and a half lengths from Lady of Camelot with Arabian Summer an honest third.
Purchased by Kurrinda Bloodstock / Doyle Racing, Private Harry has now won four from four earning $1.3million and is clearly a sprinting star on the rise and his trainer Nathan Doyle was quite clearly delighted.
Bred and sold by Southern Highlands based nursery Rheinwood Pastoral, Private Harry is the third winner from four to race from Happy Pilgrim, a half-sister to stakes-placed duo Paredo and Snipzu, the dam of Group I placed Don Corleone and The Drinks Cart. The family has also produced Group I winner Arkady and Group winners Olonana and Paris Petard.
Rheinwood Pastoral sold an Anders colt at Inglis Classic last year from Happy Pilgrim that was also bought by Kurrinda Bloodstock / Doyle Racing for $100,000 and has been named Lance Corporal.
Happy Pilgrim produced a colt foal by Zousain last year.
It’s quite a commercial family with a number of offshoots being bred to commercial sires and there are three more yearlings with a connection to Private Harry at upcoming sales and they include an Extreme Choice colt that is closely related to Don Corleone, who stood his first season at Eureka Stud this year.