A Weight For Age star, a sprinter with the ‘world’s best’ tag in his sights and a trio of exciting 3YOs all starred on a monstrous day of results for Inglis clients and graduates.
Popular galloper Behemoth led the way, scoring a second consecutive G1 Memsie Stakes victory at Caulfield while Masked Crusader (G3 The Heath), Bruckner (G3 McNeil Stakes), In The Congo (G3 San Domenico Stakes) and Coastwatch (G3 Ming Dynasty) all secured significant early-carnival victories.
For Behemoth (All Too Hard) it was a third career G1 success and saw his career earnings reach $3.2m.
He’s a $120,000 purchase for Paul Guy’s Heritage Bloodstock at the Great Southern Weanling Sale, where he was offered by his breeder Tyreel Stud.
Tyreel’s Linda Monds was again thrilled by Behemoth’s fighting qualities.
“He’s so good isn’t he. He‘s determined to rewrite history wearing our brand and he’s only halfway through the story,’’ a proud Monds said.
“It wasn’t an easy win, he did it hard, but he’s so determined and he’s only going to get better.
“I’m so proud of him carrying our brand. That brand will never go away and I hope it generates interest in our product.
“It proves that we sell all sorts – weanlings and yearlings - and they can all be great horses.
“The result is great for the Great Southern Sale as well, you just never know where your next champion will come from.’’
Behemoth (pictured) is one of 62 Inglis graduates to have won a G1 race since 2018 and one of many recent high-class Tyreel graduates to have been sold by Inglis including Classique Legend, Montefilia and Tiger Of Malay.
Earlier at Caulfield, outstanding sprinter Masked Crusader (Toronado) showed an electric turn of foot, coming from last at the turn to win eased up when resuming in the G3 The Heath.
All roads now lead to the $15m The Everest for Masked Crusader, the Hawkes Racing-trained 5YO who was resuming after a G1-winning autumn preparation and showed he was set for a huge spring with a win that had to be seen to be believed.
In victory, he firmed into a $6 equal-second elect with TAB for the Everest, alongside last year’s winner Classique Legend (Inglis Classic graduate) and behind only Nature Strip (Inglis Premier graduate).
The Hawkes’ teamed up with Cameron Cooke Bloodstock to purchase Masked Crusader for $340,000 from his breeder Gilgai Farm at the Premier Yearling Sale.
He’s now won $1.17m in earnings.
“He had to do a Chautauqua-like performance from where he was but he’s that good that he did it,’’ winning co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said.
“When he came here from Melbourne, we don’t get too ‘up and about’ with our horses but Michael [Hawkes] said ‘he’s flying’ and he was certainly right.’’
As for a path to the Everest, Hawkes said: “With us it doesn’t matter, we’ve got stables in both cities, he could do his last bit of work here on the Tuesday and go up on the Tuesday night or go as late as the Thursday night, we’ve got a lot of options. We just wanted to get past today firstly.’’
Also at Caulfield talented colt Bruckner (Snitzel) – the Premier Yearling Sale sale-topper in 2020 – scored a valuable Stakes victory in the G3 McNeil Stakes.
At just his fourth career start, the 3YO staved off a late surge from Blue Diamond winner Artorius to secure the win.
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace teamed up with Aquis to purchase Bruckner for $725,000 at last year’s Premier Sale, where he was offered by Blue Gum Farm.
Bruckner was bred by Neville and Susan Duncan’s Oakland Park Stud.
Blue Gum’s Phil Campbell described Bruckner as “untapped’’.
“He was a bloody nice yearling, he sold accordingly and as I’ve said before, it’s just so important that they can come out and run,’’ Campbell said.
“He was a cracking good colt and they’re very good breeders the Duncan’s, they’ve bred a number of good horses and they’ve got four lovely yearlings coming to us for Premier 2022 that we’re really looking forward to prepping up for them.’’
At Kembla Grange, In The Congo (Snitzel) and Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock) won the feature 3YO races.
In The Congo is one of the most consistent horses in training and added the G3 San Domenico Stakes to his resume with a tough on-speed victory.
It takes his overall record to two wins and two seconds from just four starts and cemented himself among the better 3YOs in the land.
He’ll get his chance to further prove that throughout the spring, with the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes his primary target.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, In The Congo is a $350,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Newgate Farm and China Horse Club, from the Newhaven Park draft.
His win sealed a week-to-week Stakes double for Newhaven Park graduates, with the Classic Yearling Sale-sold 3YO He’s Xceptional having won the Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
And trainer Chris Waller has a big opinion of Coastwatch, winner of the G3 Ming Dynasty Handicap.
After securing his maiden Stakes victory, Waller said Coastwatch was in for a big autumn next year, signalling races like the G1 Randwick Guineas and G1 Doncaster Mile could be within reach.
Bred by Cobra Bloodstock, Coastwatch is a $750,000 Easter Sale buy for Guy Mulcaster, from the Coolmore draft.
