Inglis graduates were resplendent racing around Australia on a glorious opening day of Queensland's Winter Carnival.
Well-related three-year-old colt Nostradamus brought home the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas for Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes and a syndicate of owners. Half-brother to Widden Stud's promising young stallion Star Witness,Nostradamus (Medaglia d'Oro x Leone Chiara)was bred and sold by Almavale Bloodstock for $500,000 at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to part-owner Eric Koundouris.
Team Hawkes originally planned to return the colt to Sydney for a spell, however he may continue his Winter Campaign in Brisbane following today's victory.
"He was going home tomorrow night and we might just have to rethink that," said co-trainer Michael Hawkes.
"We will see what happens and we will make a decision in the next 24 hours. He has done a great job," Hawkes said.
Seven-year-old mare Epingle fought off the favourite to take out the Group 3 GCTC Chairman's Handicap. Bred and sold by Waikato Stud at the 2009 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale,Epingle (Pins x Etoile Du Nord)was a $180,000 purchase for Dermot Farrington Bloodstock. This is the third win at Group 3 level for the mare who races in the colours of Rick Jamieson's Gilgai Farm. Mick Kent, who trains the mare from Cranbourne, will now aim her towards the Group 2 BTC Brisbane Cup at Doomben on 6 June.
"She hasn't raced for a few weeks, she has been working really well at home. Just the drop in grade and the trip just suits her," said Kent.
"She had a trial at home before she came up. She has really thrived since she has been here," Kent said.
Other stakes wins by Inglis graduates were Dylanson and Japhils at Morphetteville, and Authoritarian at Flemington.
Top-weighted gelding Dylanson charged home to win the Listed SAJC City Of Adelaide Handicap at Morphettville, taking his winnings past $250,000.
A $25,000 purchase by his trainer Phillip Stokes from the Edinglassie Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale,Dylanson (Dylan Thomas x Nena Candida)was bred by Queensland-based bloodstock agent John Foote.
Also at Morphettville, three-year-old filly Japhils won the Listed SAJC Nitschke Stakes for trainer John Sadler. Bred by Parsons Creek Farm,Japhils (Choisir x Livonia)was a $105,000 purchase from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft at the 2013 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for Flemington Bloodstock.
Three-year-old gelding Authoritarian notched up his second consecutive win with a strong finish in the Listed VRC St Leger at Flemington. Trainers Lee and Anthony Freedman purchasedAuthoritarian (Authorized x Special Dream)from Oakford Thoroughbreds at the 2013 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $52,000.
The Group 3 Inglis Cambridge Breeders' Stakes at Te Rapa was run and won today by Shees Flawless (Fully Fledged x Dee Flawless). This is the third consecutive win for the Roger James-trained three-year-old and her first at Group level.
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