Inglis Millennium Breakdown 

A capacity field of 16 juveniles, which features 13 colts and three fillies purchased from last year’s Inglis Sales will do battle in the fourth running of the lucrative Inglis Millennium at Randwick on Saturday.

Past Winners:

2021: Profiteer (Colt) (Capitalist x Athena Lass)

A $165,000 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Roll The Dice Racing and Rogers Bloodstock, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Profiteer is out of the Group 3 Quezette Stakes-placed Snitzel mare Athena Lass.

2020: Prime Star (Gelding) (Starspangledbanner x Barinka)

A $55,000 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Waterford Bloodstock and Michael Freedman, the Freedman Brothers-trained Prime Star is out of the New Zealand Group 1-winner Barinka.

2019: Castelvecchio (Colt) (Dundeel x St Therese)

A $150,000 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Galletta Constructions Co, Castelvecchio is out of the dual stakes-winning, nine-time stakes-placed St Therese, making him a half-brother to the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes heroine Maid Of Heaven.

Restricted Listed Inglis Millennium, $2 Million, 1100 Metres

Average Purchase Price: $264,375 

No1 – Sejardan (Colt) $3.80 (Sebring x Miss Amajardan)
Trainer: Gary Portelli

Gary Portelli knows a thing or two about preparing a high-class juvenile, having trained 2017 Group 1 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign and her Group 2 Silver Slipper-winning half-brother Time To Reign.

Sejardan, the undefeated Group 3 Breeders’ Plate and Golden Gift winner is another example that you don’t have to spend ridiculous amounts of money to acquire an elite level early running type.

The son of ill-fated Widden Stud stallion Sebring was purchased by Portelli Racing for $160,000 from the draft of Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and has amassed $665,000 in prizemoney thus far.

Sejardan is the second foal out of the dual-winning, city-placed Hinchinbrook mare Miss Amajardan, herself a half-sister to the stakes-placed Blazing Miss and Tristate.

Miss Amajardan’s page is littered in stakes success, with Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Personal, the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap-placed Foreplay and Group 1 Caulfield Guineas runner-up Time Thief featuring in her extended family.

Sebring, a Golden Slipper-winning son of More Than Ready has sired 134 two-year-old winners from 507 runners, including 22 individual stakes winners.

Sejardan is the only raced horse to be bred on a Sebring/Hinchinbrook cross.

No2 – El Padrino (Colt) $7.50 (Street Boss [USA] x Misty Rock)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

The impressive last-start Inglis Nursery winner El Padrino, is another exciting juvenile from the all-conquering Ciaron Maher and David Eustace camp.

Purchased for $210,000 at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Toby Liston’s Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, El Padrino has already amassed $261,000 in prizemoney.

The son of Darley shuttle stallion Street Boss, who has sired Anamoe, is out of 1550 metre winning Fastnet Rock mare Misty Rock, herself out of the Galileo mare Mist.

Misty Rock’s grandam is Irish Group 3 winner Beauty Bright. The Listed Roy Higgins Handicap-winning, Group 1-placed Aloft features in this family as does a host of mile and beyond stakes performers.

Street Boss, a Grade I-winning son of Street Cry (the sire of Winx), has sired 200 two-year-old winners from 578 runners, including 25 individual stakes winners.

His progeny have been competitive stretching out in trip but are most effective between 1001 and 1200 metres, with him siring 412 winners from 953 runners in this distance range.

El Padrino is the first stakes winner and most successful horse bred on a Street Boss/Fastnet Rock cross. A total of nine runners have been bred on this cross, with a total of three, including El Padrino, tasting success.

No3 – Calgary Stampede (Colt) $21 (Snitzel x Nayeli)
Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden

There’s few better at preparing juveniles than Peter and Paul Snowden, with the duo responsible for the careers of Capitalist, Russian Revolution, King’s Legacy, Pride Of Dubai and Invader. To compliment this Peter Snowden nurtured the great Sepoy to Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper success in 2011 before entering a partnership with Paul in 2014.

Calgary Stampede resumes after an impressive debut victory at Rosehill in November before backing that up with a narrow second to El Padrino in the Inglis Nursery.

Purchased by China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock for $350,000 at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Newgate Farm, Calgary Stampede is out of the dual Group 3-winning, Scone Inglis Guineas-placed More Than Ready mare Nayeli, herself a daughter of the four-time Listed-placed Wasimah.

Nayeli’s grandam is the Group 1-winning, Group 1 Thousand Guineas-placed, Kapchat, herself the dam of stakes-winning sprinters Kaphero and Princesa. Group 2-winning More Than Ready mare, Starelle features in this pedigree.

Calgary Stampede’s Champion Arrowfield Stud sire Snitzel needs little introduction, with the son of Redoute’s Choice siring 277 two-year-old winners from 739 runners, including 44 individual stakes winners.

The Snitzel/More Than Ready cross boasts an almost impeccable record, with all bar one runner bred on this cross not winning a race from a sample size of 29 runners.

This cross boasts a 6 per cent stakes winners to runners strike rate, with 2019 Magic Millions 2YO Classic heroine Exhilarates being the most prolific.

No4 – Sweet Ride (Colt) $34 (Deep Field x How Sweet It Is)
Trainer: Annabel Neasham

Sweet Ride presents three-weeks between runs after controlling proceedings from the front and winning convincingly on debut at Rosehill. 

A $320,000 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Sweet Ride races in the colours of Bert Viera, who owned Trapeze Artist.

Sweet Ride is the first foal out of the four-time winning Foxwedge mare How Sweet It Is, herself the daughter of the Listed-placed Southern Venture.

Southern Venture is a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winning heroine Metal Bender and the dams of Amarelinha and Missybeel. North Pacific is also featured in this family.

Sweet Ride’s burgeoning Newgate Farm sire Deep Field is continuing to make his presence felt at stud despite a large portion of his quality young stock being shipped off to Hong Kong.

While Deep Field’s progeny thus far have flourished at three and beyond, he still knows how to throw a juvenile winner, having produced 44 two-year-old winners from 144 runners, including two stakes winners.

Sweet Ride is one of two winners from three runners bred on a Deep Field/Foxwedge cross.

No 5 – Athletica (Colt) $26 (Exceed And Excel x Queen Of Eight)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Athletica is certainly in the right camp to fire as a juvenile, with Waterhouse saddling up seven Golden Slipper winners and five of the last 14.

A debut winner over 900 metres on a Heavy Newcastle surface Athletica has since proven his class with a third placing behind El Padrino and Calgary Stampede in the Inglis Nursery.

Racing in the colours of Francis and Christine Cook, Athletica was purchased by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $370,000 at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

He is out of the five-time winning Haradasun mare Queen Of Eight, herself a half-sister to Group 1 Caulfield Guineas runner-up Lizard Island and the stakes-placed Marsannay and Fairy Star.

Athletica’s grandam Bourgogne is a half-sister to the Group 1 VRC Oaks-winning Bulla Borghese, herself the dam of Group 2 Furious Stakes winner Bound For Earth.

Group 2 Magic Night Stakes winner Calliope, herself the dam of Group 2 Danehill Stakes winner Kallos and Group 3 Canonbury Stakes hero Zethus feature in this family.

Athletica’s sire Exceed And Excel has produced 537 two-year-old winners form 1526 runners, including 80 individual stakes winners.

He is the only named horse to date that has been bred on an Exceed And Excel/Haradasun cross.

No6 – Boldinho (Colt) $6.50 (Brazen Beau x Petite)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 

Boldinho is another runner who comes through the Inglis Nursery, where he ran 1.7 lengths fourth behind stablemate El Padrino after finishing second to boom filly Ebhaar on debut in the Merson Cooper Stakes at Caulfield.

A $90,000 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, Boldinho is the first foal out of 2100 metre-winning Reset mare Petite, herself a half-sister to Listed Hobart Guineas winner Ludka.

Petite’s unraced dam Laleta is a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Lailani, who was victorious in the Irish Oaks. This European centric pedigree does feature the Group 2 Vain Stakes-placed Keep The Faith.

Boldinho’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes-winning Darley sire Brazen Beau has a far superior winning strike rate with his three-year-old runners; however, his progeny are no slouches at two, with 117 of his 278 juvenile runners notching a victory.

The son of I Am Invincible is also responsible for eight individual two-year-old stakes winners.

Boldinho is the second horse to race that is bred on a Brazen Beau/Reset cross, with Beau Zoom a winner of $88,460 being the other.

No7 – Pomade (Colt) $34 (Star Turn x Spotty Socks)
Trainer: Kris Lees

Doomben debut winner Pomade rises sharply in class for this feature contest after holding out the fast-finishing Bessamati when green late in the piece.

A $70,000 2021 Inglis HTBA May Yearling Sale purchase by Lees Racing, Pomade is owned by Alan Bell, who raced Star Turn and Deep Field.

Pomade is the first foal out of Pluck mare Spotty Socks, herself a sister to the Listed-placed Star Boy. Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner Red Dazzler and the Group 3-placed Magnus Reign feature in this family.

Pomade’s second-season Vinery Stud sire Star Turn has made an immediate impact at stud, siring 40 winners from 73 runners, and 20 juvenile winners from 46 runners, including stakes winner Miss Hipstar.

The son of Widden Stud stallion Star Witness is also responsible for the Group 1 Flight Stakes-placed Startantes and the stakes-winning, Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas runner-up Me Me Lagarde.

Pomade is the only named horse bred on a Star Turn/Pluck cross. None have been bred on a Star Witness/Pluck cross.

No8 – Zambezi River (Colt) $12 (I Am Invincible x Zamzam)
Trainer: Chris Waller 

Champion trainer Chris Waller has just about every trophy on the mantel piece, however, the Golden Slipper still alludes him.

Waller gets a fantastic opportunity here with the well-bred Zambezi River, who resumes after finishing 1.3 lengths behind current race favourite Sejarden on debut in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate.

Purchased by James Harron Bloodstock and Tom Magnier (Coolmore Australia) for $1.15 million at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park, Zambezi River is the second foal out of the Listed-winning, Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes-placed Redoute’s Choice mare Zamzam.

Zamzam is out of the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes runner-up Fleur De’here. Her Group 2-winning grandam Fleur De Chine is responsible for Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder, herself the grandam of Levendi, Wu Gok and Marcel From Madrid.

Zambezi River’s superstar Yarraman Park-based sire I Am Invincible is a force to be reckoned with and stands for $220,000 (Inc GST).

His strike rate of producing winners at three, 446 winners from 752 runners, far outweighs that of his juvenile’s, however, when it comes to producing stakes-winning youngsters there is few better.

I Am Invincible has had 484 two-year-old runners for 187 winners and 36 individual stakes winners, although a Group 1-winning juvenile still alludes him.

The I Am Invincible/Redoute’s Choice cross has proved a success thus far, boasting 39 winners from 51 runners to date. The only knock is that its stakes winners to runners sits at a mere three per cent.

No9 – Emperor $18 (Colt) (I Am Invincible x Jolie Bay)
Trainer: Matthew Dunn

Matthew Dunn looks to have a classy juvenile on his hands here and undoubtedly the best-bred galloper in the field.

Emperor isn’t just a well-bred son of I Am Invincible but has proven that he can measure up on the racetrack, finishing 1.8 lengths third behind Sejardan on debut in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate before resuming last fortnight with a solid second placing at Randwick.

Purchased for $460,000 at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Matthew Dunn and bloodstock agent Neil Jenkinson from the draft of Segenhoe Stud, Emperor is out of the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes-winning, Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes runner-up Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock mare), herself a sister to Merchant Navy and the stakes-performed Setanta and Zara Bay.

Jolie Bay is also a proven producer, with her first foal, God Of Thunder, running second in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint.

Listed Merson Cooper Stakes winner Ebhaar, who was rolled as a short-priced fancy last Saturday at Rosehill also feature in this family as does Group 2-winning Godolphin colt Paulele and Group 1 Myer Classic winner Bonaria.

The I Am Invincible/Fastnet Rock cross is the second most popular ‘Vinnie’ cross after the I Am Invincible/Redoute’s Choice. With 46 named horses bred on it.

It has also proved quite successful, producing 22 winners from 30 runners at a slightly improved stakes winners to runners ratio (six per cent). 

No10 – The Wizard King $126 (Colt) (Flying Artie x Wizard Princess)
Trainer: Shawn Mathrick

Cranbourne-based trainer Shawn Mathrick will saddle up the least expensive runner in the field, with his Flying Artie colt, The Wizard King purchased for $30,000, from the draft of Diamond Park Breeding and Racing, at the 2021 Inglis Gold Yearling Sale.

The Wizard King resumes after being beaten by more than six lengths in his two career starts thus far, eighth in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes and seventh in the Inglis Banner.

Out of the dual-winning Rory’s Jester mare Wizard Princess, The Wizard King is a half-brother to New Zealand stakes winner Jackofall, while Wizard Princess herself is a half-sister to Group 1 Flight Stakes heroine Cheeky Choice.

Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive, Group 1 SA Derby runner-up Scratchy Bottom and Group 1 New Zealand Oaks also feature in this family.

The Wizard King’s young Newgate Farm sire Flying Artie has started his career off in style, having produced last year’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes hero Artorius.

He currently sits fifth on the second-season sire standings by winners, 19, behind only Capitalist, Star Turn, Shalaa and Maurice after finishing third in last year’s first-season sire standings by prizemoney ($2.06 million).

The Wizard King is the only named horse bred on a Flying Artie/Rory’s Jester cross, however, one winner from three runners has been bred on an Artie Schiller/Rory’s Jester cross.

No11 – Fire And Ice $61 (Colt) (Hellbent x Ceresi)
Trainer: Mark Minervini

Fire And Ice, a son of first-season Yarraman Park stallion Hellbent, may have been missed by the market after finishing 0.1 length behind Emperor when they clashed over 1000 metres at Rosehill last fortnight.

An $80,000 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Minervini Racing from the draft of Kitchwin Hills, Fire And Ice is the first foal out of the unraced All Too Hard mare Cersei, herself a daughter of the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes-winning three-time Group 1-placed Vormista.

Cersei, who was a $165,000 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase herself, is a half-sister to Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes runner up Reemah and hails from the extended family of Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) winner Ashkaleta.

While Hellbent, a son of I Am Invincible, has only sired the one winner from 12 runners to date, Miss Hellfire, his progeny have proved a success in the ring this year, selling up to $460,000 and averaging just shy of $233,000 in Book 1 at the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Fire And Ice is the only named horse bred on a Hellbent/All Too Hard cross and no named horses have been bred on I Am Invincible/All Too Hard cross.

No12 – Vaderzan $61 (Gelding) (Invader x Lipizzan)
Trainer: Gary Portelli

Vaderzan is playing second fiddle to his more fancied stablemate Sejarden in the market and rightfully so, after posting a distant eighth and third at Canterbury and Canberra to start his career.

A $130,000 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Louis Mihalyka’s Laurel Oak Bloodstock from the draft of Silverdale Farm, Vaderzan is the first foal out of the Listed-placed Sebring mare Lipizzan, herself out of a half-sister to the Group 3 WATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic winner Camporella.

While this is one of the weakest pedigrees in the race, however, if you want to dive deep Group 1 winners Fairy King Prawn, Easy Rocking and Cosmic Endeavour feature in Lipzzan’s fifth dam.

Vaderzan’s young Aquis Farm sire Invader, a winner of the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes himself, has kickstarted his career at stud in style and is currently tied with The Mission and Heroic Valour atop the first-season sire standings by winners with four from seven runners.

Vaderzan is the only named horse bred on an Invader/Sebring cross. There has been no named horses bred on a Snitzel/Sebring cross.

No13 – Russian Assassin $201 (Colt) (Russian Revolution x Miss Benedetta)
Trainer: Lauri Parker

The lone debutant in the field goes around at any old quote after two fair trial showings to date and you’d suspect that he’d need to improve sharply to measure up against a field of this quality.

An $80,000 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Lauri Parker and RM Racing Group, Russian Assassin is the first foal out of the three-time winning Denman mare Miss Benedetta, herself a half-sister to dual Singapore Listed winner Faaltless.

Miss Bendetta’s New Zealand Group 2-winning grandam is responsible for So You Think and his Group 3-placed half-brother Now You Know.

Russian Assassin’s young Newgate Farm-based sire Russian Revolution currently sits atop the first-season sire standing by prizemoney, thanks to the success of Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner-up Russian Conquest. He has sired three winners from 10 runners to date.

Russian Assassin is one of four named horses bred on a Russian Revolution/Denman cross. Two gallopers bred on this cross have made it to the races thus far, including the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Secret Revolution, who was beaten 3.6 lengths by Ojai on debut in the Kirkham Plate.

No14: Paris Dior $4 (Filly) (Pierro x Entrancing)
Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden

Paris Dior has been all the rave leading into this feature contest after a dominant maiden victory at Canterbury on January 7. Before that she was luckless on debut at Warwick Farm, flashing late to miss Man In The Mirror by 0.2 length after being held up in the run.

Bred by Marquee Stud and Passed in at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale after failing to meet a reserve of $300,000, Paris Dior is the first foal out of the five time-winning, up to 1200 metres, Exceed And Excel mare Entrancing, herself a half-sister to the three-time WA stakes-placed Miss West Coast.

Entrancing’s four-time Listed-winning, Group 1 Coolmore Classic-placed grandam Nanny Maroon is the dam of Group 2 Challenge Stakes winner De Lightning Ridge.

Paris Dior’s Golden Slipper-winning Coolmore Stud sire Pierro has had far more success with his progeny at three and beyond. He has sired just 31 juveniles winners from 145 runners compared to 183 winners from 377 three year old runners. However, he stakes claim to six juvenile stakes winners.

The Pierro/Exceed And Excel cross has produced 15 runners for 10 winners and $1.4 million in earnings thus far. There has one stakes winner bred on this cross and three stakes placegetters. 

No15: Xtravagant Star (Filly) (Xtravagant [NZ] x She’s A Dancia)
Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy  

Xtravagant Star, a daughter of young dual Group 1-winning Newhaven Park sire Xtravagant, steps up in class after nosing out the well-fancied Eros on debut at Geelong early last month.

Purchased for $150,000 at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Newhaven Park, Xtravagant Star is out of three-time winning Sebring mare She’s A Danica, making her a sister to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s Listed McKenzie Stakes winner He’s Xceptional.

She’s A Dancia herself is a half-sister to the dual Group 3-placed Into Orbit. Her three-time New Zealand Group 1-winning grandam Ballroom Babe is responsible for the Group 2-winning, multiple Group 1-placed Just Dancing.

The Group-winning Tahni Girl and Maschino feature alongside stakes performers Kentucky Breeze and Ideal Guide in this family.

Xtravagant is currently seventh on the Australian second-season sire standings by winners, having produced 15. He has also sired one winner in New Zealand.

Xtravagant Star and her brother He’s Exceptional are the only two named horses bred on an Xtravagant/Sebring cross. No named horses have been bred on a Pentire/Sebring cross. 

No16: The Seven Seas $101 (Filly) (Merchant Navy x Elusive Wonder)
Trainer: John Sargent

John Sargent may be known for his ability to train staying fillies, however, in recent years he has shown great versatility, having prepared Four Moves Ahead, who was the first filly home in last year’s Golden Slipper.

The Seven Seas comes through a sixth placing in the Inglis Nursery and has again drawn wide, barrier 15 of 16.

Bred by Peter O’Brien and Chris and Jane Barham, The Seven Seas was purchased by Mark Pilkington and Darren Thomas of Seymour Bloodstock, who raced Merchant Navy, for $280,000 at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale via the draft of Segenhoe Stud.

The Seven Seas is out of the Listed Chairman Stakes placed Elusive Quality mare Elusive Wonder, making her a half-sister to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Away Game and the stakes-winning, dual Group 3-placed Modern Wonder.

Elusive Wonder herself is a half-sister to Listed winner Tantra and hails from the extended family of multiple Group 1 winner Inference and Group 2 Carbine Club Stakes hero Ranier.

The Seven Seas’ dual Hemisphere Group 1-winning first season Coolmore Stud sire Merchant Navy has recorded two winners from seven runners to date.

While his progeny haven’t been as well-received as one would hope in the sales ring due to their smaller athletic build there is no doubt that they will hit their straps at three and beyond, based on the quality of mares Coolmore have sent Merchant Navy’s way and the leading trainers his stock have found homes with.

The Merchant Navy/Elusive Quality cross is still in its infancy and no named horses have been bred on a Fastnet Rock/Elusive Quality cross.

Inglis Millennium Selections: Best On Breeding  

First: Emperor $18
Second: The Seven Seas $101
Third: Zambezi River $12
Fourth: Calgary Stampede $21