The late Bede Murray would be very proud of his son Paul after the astute Kembla trainer produced a Christmas fairytale result at Randwick on Saturday when $1250 Inglis Digital online purchase Where’s the Circus ran her rivals ragged on debut to win the $400,000 Inglis Nursery RL (1000m).
The daughter of Trapeze Artist won a trial at Kembla last month, but was overlooked by punters who favoured the more expensive colts with race form on the board.
Ridden by Jean Van Overmiere, Where’s the Circus went forward from gate four to lead and after skipping clear turning for home the talented bay proved impossible to catch.
She was strong to the line and held a length margin over Home Affairs colt Internal Affairs with Dirty Work filly Regal Hustle in third place.
"It's always a bit tricky to do that, give up my provincial rides to come here, especially when I've only got one," said Jean Van Overmeire.
"But my thinking was, each year this race is not always that strong and the way she trialled the other day, purely on how she felt, I thought it would be worthwhile giving her a test anyway."
Murray was thrilled to be back in the winner’s circle at Randwick on a big day with a filly with plenty of upside.
“It is getting very hard," said Murray of his training business.
"I only have a handful of horses. I had to get rid of the older horses and just have one crack at having a go at getting a few nice two-year-olds and it looks like it's going to pay off."
Murray’s partner Michelle Ritchie bought Where’s the Circus from Widden Stud as a yearling through the 2024 Inglis Digital September Online Sale for just $1250 and she collected $231,000 for her elated syndicate of owners.
Bred by the Vieira Group and foaled and raised at Widden, Where’s the Circus is a half-sister to stakes-placed Can’t Find Snippy, who was placed in an Inglis Classic RL at two.
Ritchie had some inside knowledge on this filly as she and Paul purchased and raced Can’t Find Snippy, paying $14,000 for her as a yearling at Inglis Classic back in 2015 and she won over $180,000.
They also raced another of her winners in Where’s Snippy, who won four races and cost just $600 as a weanling.
Where’s the Circus is the seventh winner from eight foals to race from Misplaced, a placed Fastnet Rock mare from an old Contract Racing family that has produced Group winners Red Colossus, Nediym’s Glow, General Beau and Kinglike.
Misplaced died at the start of this year and here last foal is a yearling colt by Trapeze Artist that will be offered at Inglis Classic in the Widden draft as Lot 190.
Where’s the Circus is the eighth stakes-winner for Trapeze Artist, who is enjoying a strong season with new stakes-winners Panova and Piggyback.
Trapeze Artist has 15 entries for Magic Millions, 12 for Inglis Classic and nine for Inglis Premier.
