The domination of Inglis 3YOs to start the new Australian racing season continued with Veight and Tiz Invincible both scoring impressive Group victories.
At Caulfield, exciting colt Veight (Grunt) surged into calculations for the big stallion-making races in the coming months with a dominant first-up win in the G3 McNeil Stakes.
And at Rosehill, exceptional filly Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible) ensured she remained unbeaten as a 3YO with a tenacious victory in the G2 Furious Stakes.
The wins saw the strong start to the 2023/24 season for Inglis graduates continue – Inglis 3YOs have now won five of the eight 3YO Stakes races (63%) with four individual winners in Veight, Tiz Invincible, Libertad and Autumn Ballet.
In those eight races, Inglis graduates have filled 50% of the placings including the trifecta in both legs of the Darley Princess Series – Autumn Ballet defeated Estriella and Kimochi in the opening leg, the Silver Shadow Stakes while Tiz Invincible defeated Kimochi and Mumbai Muse in today’s Furious Stakes.
Such was the credence of Veight’s victory at Caulfield today, co-trainer Tony McEvoy suggested not only the G1 Caulfield Guineas but also the G1 Cox Plate could be on Veight’s spring radar.
Having won two of his three career starts as a 2YO, Veight resumed today at three and immediately rocketed up betting charts for all the spring majors on his radar.
“It’s really important they come back from their 2YO days, you’re always a little bit tentative but we’ve got tremendous faith in this colt,’’ McEvoy said.
“He beat a smart lot there today, I know [trainer] Peter [Moody] has got a lot of time for his filly [Legacies, who ran 2nd) and we couldn’t be more pleased with our colt.’’
Asked on Veight’s spring plans, McEvoy said: “His first goal would be the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), he’ll go into that third up and will he run 2000m? I don’t know but if we won the Guineas, we could look at maybe going to a Cox Plate, 3YOs run so well in it.’’
Bred by Yulong – who stand his stallion Grunt at their Victorian farm – Veight is a $220,000 Classic Yearling Sale purchase for Tony and Calvin McEvoy along with Damon Gabbedy of Belmont Bloodstock.
He was offered at Classic by Roy and Treen Murphy of Sledmere Stud.
Veight wasn’t the only Inglis-sold 3YO to star on the first Saturday of spring, with Tiz Invincible impressing at Randwick.
Resuming at three with a strong win in the Listed Rosebud three weeks ago, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Tiz Invincible backed that up with a dominant performance in today’s G2 Furious Stakes.
“She’s very good and she’s just coming on each start,’’ Maher said.
“I think she’ll get out to a mile. The best part of her race is usually the last bit, she’s always strong through the line so I think as a 3YO, a mile shouldn’t be a problem.
“We’ll go to the Tea Rose next over 1400m and then the [G1] Flight (Stakes, 1600m).’’
Bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Tiz Invincible is a $550,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Maher and Eustace along with Justin Bahen and Eric Lucas.
She was offered at Easter by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds.
It wasn’t only the Inglis 3YOs impressing today – exciting 4YO mare Benedetta (Hellbent) made it six wins from eight starts with a fighting victory in the G3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.
Benedetta – bred by Brenton and Liz Parker - is a $75,000 Premier Yearling Sale purchase for her trainer Jason Warren, where she was offered by Mill Park Stud.
She has now won $852,000 in earnings.
And in Brisbane Irish Songs (Shamus Award) scored a second Stakes win from his past three starts with victory in the Listed Tattersall’s Members Cup at Eagle Farm.
The 8YO is another Inglis Digital success story, having been purchased online for just $30,000 by Lex Nichols last December.
He has earned more than $400,000 since.
*Champion sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) was today officially retired.
Offered at the Premier Yearling Sale by Golden Grove, Nature Strip (Nicconi) proved himself the best sprinter of the past decade.
The Chris Waller-trained 9YO retires with nine G1 wins, an Everest victory and $20,732,012 in earnings.
Among many career highlights was his victory in the G1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, his 2021 Everest win and his three G1 TJ Smith victories.
