Scheduled alongside the Listed Mornington Cup and Listed Hareeba Stakes, the $250,000 Inglis Premier run over 1200m, is restricted to two-year-olds nominated to the Inglis Race Series which were offered at last year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Last year's victor Masthead followed up his Inglis Premier win with a third placing in the Group One MRC Blue Diamond Stakes ten days later. Masthead's victory in the 2011 Inglis Premier guaranteed his spot in the Blue Diamond field with first place prizemoney in the Inglis Premier allowed when assessing Blue Diamond ballot conditions.
This year's race will be hotly contested with two last start stakes-placed horses taking their place in the field. The Gerald Ryan trained Snitzerland is attempting to win the Inglis Premier first-up following her narrow defeat at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day in the Listed Emirates Airline Plate. The Sydney filly was an impressive trial winner at Rosehill last week.
Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald has targeted the Inglis Premier with No Smoken. The colt ran second at his only start in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) behind The Travelling Man. Both No Smoken and Snitzerland are sired by one of the nation's leading sire of two-year-olds in Snitzel.
Another interesting runner is the Charge Forward gelding Road Trippin. The Stephen Theodore trained galloper already has a start at the track under his belt with a second placing behind subsequent stakes winner Armed For Action at Mornington last month.
The Ken Keys trained Excitus is the lone first starter in the field. Whilst the Excites filly is the most inexperienced in the race, she showed promise in her trial last October defeating Blue Diamond contender Members Joy.
Click here for breeding and sale price information of the entire field.
In addition to the $250,000 in race prizemoney on offer, the winning trainer of the 2012 Inglis Premier will receive a set of Swarovski Optik EL 42 Swarovision binoculars valued at $3,000. The winning trainer and owner will also receive an exclusive piece of Antler Luggage from the New Size Zero range.
As part of the Melbourne Festival of Racing, the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale will be held at Oaklands on 27-29 February and 1 March. The online catalogue of 790 lots is available HERE. All yearlings sold at this sale are eligible for nomination to the lucrative $5m Inglis Race Series including the new $2.4m Inglis Triple Crown Bonus for two-year-olds and three-year-olds.
Three runners in tomorrow's race have relatives catalogued in this year's Premier Yearling Sale.
· Bellerive Stud will offer a full brother to Road Trippin, as lot 173.
· Yallambee Stud will offer a half-brother to Repousser, by Haradasun as lot 251.
· Blue Gum Farm will offer a half-brother to Weekend Getaway, by Elvstroem as lot 339.
For further information on the Inglis Race Series please visit www.inglis.com.au/races or email raceseries@inglis.com.au
INGLIS RACE SERIES – UPCOMING RACES
$250,000 – 2YO Inglis Premier, 1200m – Mornington VIC, 15 Feb 2012
$50,000 BONUS – 2YO Lightning Ridge Plate, 1000m – Canberra ACT, 26 Feb 2012
$50,000 BONUS – 3YO Bendigo Guineas, 1400m – Bendigo VIC, 17 Mar 2012
$50,000 BONUS – 3YO Albury Guineas, 1400m – Albury NSW, 23 Mar 2012
$100,000 – 2YO Inglis Autumn Plate, 1100m – Bendigo VIC, 11 Apr 2012
$50,000 BONUS – 2YO Open Hcp, 1200m – Warrnambool VIC, 3 May 2012
$50,000 BONUS – 2YO Open Hcp, 1200m – Wagga NSW, 3 May 2012
$50,000 BONUS – 2YO Open Hcp, 1200m – Hawkesbury NSW, 5 May 2012
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