Untapped 4YO Roots (Press Statement) capped off a stellar spring campaign with another strong victory in today’s Inglis Bracelet at Flemington.
Ridden to perfection by James McDonald, Roots started a dominant $1.60 favourite with TAB and gave her backers little reason to worry, scoring her third win from her past four starts.
Trained by Chris Waller, Roots defeated Climbing Star (Phillip Stokes) and fellow Waller galloper Sur La Mer.
Roots is a $52,000 purchase for Japanese breeder Mr Murakami, who bought the horse from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale.
After two career starts – including a second placing to rising star Fangirl in the Listed Reginald Allen Hcp – Sheamus Mills set his sights on the then 3YO filly and was able to buy a controlling share to race the horse with Mr Murakami.
“I wasn’t the lone ranger in thinking Fangirl was a superstar in the making and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to buy her so I tried the next best thing which was Roots and it’s been a great ride since,’’ Mills said.
“This is what dreams are made of, coming to a big day like Oaks Day at Flemington in Melbourne Cup Week and saddling up a short-priced favourite and watching her win like that.
“She’s such a beautiful mare, she’s got plenty of length to her and so much quality. I think she’s a gem!
“We had this horse in a Stakes race on Tuesday as well but these sorts of races that Inglis put on as part of their Race Series with great prizemoney, it gives people a great chance to run for big money when some generally wouldn’t be able to. None of us can complain when there’s so much money in the industry for owners to race for and the Inglis Race Series plays a big part in that.’’
Roots is bred by a team including Greg Perry, Steve McCann’s Encompass International, Neil Werrett and Alan Green’s Echo Beach Bloodstock.
For her efforts today, Roots won her trainer Waller a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars for being the winning trainer of an Inglis Race Series event.
“It was a well-deserved win, she didn’t get much luck last start but at least she’s racing consistently well, which is what you want to see,’’ Waller said.
“It was a nice ride from James, as we get used to seeing and that made a big help as well.
“She’s always shown us ability as a 3YO, we’ve just taken our time with her now she’s turned four and this preparation has been a good confidence-building exercise and usually a horse will lift from that.’’
Roots will now progress to the G3 Summoned Stakes, to be run at Caulfield on November 26.
Winning rider McDonald added: “She’s flying at the moment, she’s in carer best form.
“She just looks fantastic and she’ll only get better.’’
The next race in the Inglis Race Series in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery at Randwick on December 10.
The Nursery is also a Pink Bonus eligible race, with $200,000 going to the first Pink Bonus eligible horse home.
Nominations for the Nursery close at 11am on Monday December 5.
Inglis Release
