Just three-quarters of a length covered the first five across the line in Friday’s $200,000 Inglis Challenge at Scone, but there is no denying the well-supported debutant Vegas Raider was a worthy winner.
Ridden by Jason Collett for David Pfieffer, the 2yo gelded son of Invader came widest of all from well back to defeat the Headwater colt River Danzka by a long neck with the Capitalist filly Invest In Love a head back in third.
It was back-to-back wins in the race for Pfieffer following Artero last year.
&ldq
uo;We were worried how far back he would get, but we were confident he would get through the wet track,” Pfieffer said.
“It panned out well for him. They went hard up front, and he tracked into the race at the right time. The horse and Jason did the rest.
“It’s great to win this race again, especially for a new team, Strong Bloodstock. They are only a young company, and they have supported me over the last twelve months. It’s good to repay them with a nice race.”
Jason Collett said the son of Invader has untapped ability but has a lot to learn.
“He did a lot wrong today. He played up in the barriers and didn’t step cleanly,” Collett said.
“I think I was last early, had a look underneath, but thought I better stay wide.
‘He just had more class than them.”
An $8,000 pinhook from the Middlebrook Valley Lodge draft at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, Vegas Raider made $38,000 to the bid of David Pfieffer Racing / Strong Bloodstock from the Fairview Park Stud consignment at the 2021 Inglis HTBA May Yearling Sale.
He is the second winner from three to race from the unraced Casino Prince mare Casino Lass, a half-sister to triple Group II winner Trusting, who placed in five Group 1s, AJC Epsom H., George Main Stakes, STC Golden Rose Stakes, ATC Chipping Norton Stakes, and WATC Kingston Town Classic.
Tim Martin purchased a brother to Vegas Raider from the Amarina Farm draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Casino Lass was covered by new Widden Stud recruit Dirty Work last spring.
Bred by Danny Molloy, Vegas Raider is the sixth first crop winner for Aquis Farm’s Invader.
The son of Snitzel is the fourth leading first-crop sire for individual winners and will vault to eighth on earnings.
Invader will stand at a fee of $22,000 at Aquis Farm this spring.
