Calamari Ring (Street Boss) provided another delicious endorsement for Inglis weanling sales when she stormed to a debut victory in Saturday’s rich Inglis Banner (1000m) for two-year-olds at Flemington.
The Ciaron Maher-trained filly outstripped her 10 male and female rivals in the $400,000 Listed event for Inglis graduates, showing great maturity to surge up the centre of the straight course in windy and rainy conditions to score by 0.2 lengths, as a $5.50 equal favourite.
Calamari Ring continues a run of great success at Inglis weanling sales for Sydney-based expat Hong Kong businessman Leo To.
In 2021, To paid only $21,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale to secure a Brave Smash filly who would become racetrack star Kimochi. Trained by Gary Portelli, the G1 winner earned $2.12m in prizemoney and raised $2.2m when sold midway through her career to Yulong associate Islay Vale at the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
To had to dig a little deeper to acquire Calamari Ring, with his Hall of Fame bloodstock company teaming with agent Shane McGrath at last year’s Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale to buy the filly from breeder Two Bays Farm’s draft for $140,000.
Named by To’s teenaged son after his favourite dinner snack, Calamari Ring has by far eclipsed that purchase price with one run, earning $240,000 for her Inglis Banner victory.
“I’m a big fan of the Inglis sales,” To said.
“As with my approach before, I always find there is great value at the weanling sales, so we didn’t have any hesitation about securing her.
“If she was at the yearling sales, I’d probably have had to pay $300,000 or $400,000 for her. So, it’s beautiful.
“I’ll continue to buy at the weanling sales. They’re my favourite.”
Calamari Ring was one of the first purchases under To’s association with McGrath.
“She had beautiful size, she was very strong and very correct - just the best horse in the sale,” To said. “Shane has a very good eye, and he picked her for me.
“Her name comes from my son, who loves calamari rings every time we go out for dinner. And it's one of the best foods in Australia!”
“God I thought she’s done a great job,” Maher said. “She came up the middle of the track, had never seen the straight.
“I can’t thank my team enough - they’ve done a super job. It’s our first runner for the owner, so what a way to start.
“She’s always shown ability. I didn’t think she’d get to the races this early, but as good horses do, they do well in training, and every time we’ve asked a little bit of her it brought her on.
“She’s got a bright future.”
The Banner brought a quinella for fillies bought in tandem with McGrath, with second place going to the Clinton McDonald-trained Streisand at $6.50.
McGrath and McDonald paid $100,000 for the daughter of Magnus from Northmore Thoroughbreds’ draft at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne.
Third went to $7 chance Bohemian Rhapsody from the Melbourne Cup-winning stable of Tony and Calvin McEvoy, a $200,000 buy for McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock from Sledmere Stud’s draft at this year’s Inglis Classic sale.
Bohemian Rhapsody ensured his owners a significant prizemoney boost by being the first Inglis Pink Bonus-eligible runner home, with the colt’s connections collecting a $100,000 bonus on top of their third-place prizemoney.
Prior to the running of the Inglis Banner, Bohemian Rhapsody had already impressed, with special guest judge, the Racing Blogger Stephen Power, naming him the Best Turned Out horse in the mounting yard.
His strapper, James Rayner, was rewarded with a $500 cash card for his efforts in presenting the colt so well ahead of the race.
The Best Turned Out Award is presented before every event in the Inglis Race Series, recognising the dedication of the industry’s hard working strappers.
