The lucrative $5million Inglis Race Series for 2015 Inglis yearling sale graduates kicked off today with a tough win by Inglis Premier graduate Dalradian in the $250,000 RL Inglis Banner for two-year-olds over 1000m at Moonee Valley.
Stepping out for the second time in his career following a convincing debut win at Bendigo last week,Dalradian (Reward For Effort x Miss Ireland)fought off strong competition from Valliano and Pearl Congenial to earn his first black type victory under the guidance of Brad Rawiller.
Trainer Darren Weir admitted that the bulk of his accolades weren't due to two-year-old races, but that this colt was particularly special.
"I don't train many two-year-olds, but this boy is the real deal," said Weir.
"This is actually the only two-year-old race I can remember winning – he's brilliant!" Weir said.
Weir was confident that the colt would continue to improve, with his next assignment to be the Group 3 VRC Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington over 1000m on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
"He'll be no problem (contesting the Maribyrnong Plate), you normally wouldn't back a two-year-old like we did with him this week but he's a tough little bugger."
Dalradian joins a notable list of winners of the Inglis Banner, including the inaugural winner and namesake Starspangledbanner, and 2014 winner Fontiton, which went on to two Group wins and a Group 1 performance in her two-year-old season.
Bred and sold by Chatswood Stud at the 2015 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Dalradian was a $55,000 purchase for his trainer, in conjunction with John Foote Bloodstock and managing owner David Speechley.
The son of Reward For Effort has taken his earnings to just shy of $190,000 for a large group of owners, Mr David G Speechley, Mr W B Thomas, Mr J Cavanagh, Mr T G Van Den Berghe, Mr B Wearne, Mr S Mcqueen, Mrs O S Newman, M R S H, Mr T L Webb, Mrs S J Moller, Mr W E Gribble, Mr J W Penhall, Mrs C M Thomas.
Along with prizemoney and bonuses, Dalradian has earned his connections enviable prizes from Swarovski Optiks and Antler Luggage. Weir received a set of Swarovski Optik EL 42 Swarovision binoculars, and Rawiller and Speechley received great luggage from Antler.
The race is the one of the first legs of the Inglis Triple Crown, to which a $2,250,000 Bonus will be distributed to connections of a horse which can win all three legs.
The race is also the first chance for trainers to earn a place on the Trainers Bonus Table, the leader of which will win a $50,000 Bonus at the completion of the Inglis Race Series for 2015 graduates, after the Four-year-old Inglis Cup in 2017.
The $100,000 RL Inglis Trophy over 1400m for three-year-olds nominated to the Inglis Race Series will be held at Sale tomorrow, Sunday 25 October 2015 on Sale Cup Day. The next event for Inglis Race Series-nominated two-year-olds will be the $500,000 RL Inglis Nursery over 1000m at Royal Randwick on Saturday 12 December 2015.
Upcoming races in the Inglis Race Series include:
$100,000 Inglis Trophy – 3YOs – Sale VIC, 1400m – Sunday, 25 October
$500,000 Inglis Nursery –2YOs – Randwick NSW, 1000m – Saturday, 12 December
$250,000 Inglis Sprint – 3YOs – Randwick NSW, 1100m – Saturday, 12 December
For more information on the lucrative $5 million Inglis Race Series visitinglis.com.au/races
Inglis Release
