For many racehorses the only race they will ever win is their maiden and Inglis have spread the money into this very important area with their Xtra Bonus Series and two $50,000 bonuses went off at the always popular Snake Gully Cup meeting at Gundagai on Friday to the great delight of connections of Essay and Southern Grace.
The Inglis Xtra bonus is usually $100,000, but there was such a huge response to the selected maiden race at this meeting it was decided to run two divisions and split the bonus accordingly.
Three year-old Zousain filly Essay was having her third race start for the Richard Collett stable and was resuming from a spell in the 1180m maiden.
Sent off favourite, Essay enjoyed a soft run on the fence for Andrew Calder after jumping from gate one and hit the line hard when she found clear running to win by three-quarters of a length.
New winner for Zousain and some of the @inglis_sales Xtra Bonus cash. Essay (3f Zousain x Written Star) for Richard Collett 100k buy for Collett Racing Stables from @VineryStud at @inglis_sales Classic Season winner 46 for the sire @widdenstud https://t.co/16MmgzFzyV
— Breednet (@BreednetNews) November 13, 2026
With first prizemoney of $22,000, plus the $50,000 Inglis bonus, plus the $5625 BOBS bonus it was a great pay day for her owners.
Essay’s part-owner Tim Cunneen travelled down from Manly to be trackside for the win.
“Oh the bonus is fantastic, we thought we would bring this filly down here to kick off her campaign, it’s a decent drive from Manly but it was well worth it,” Cunneen said.
“[Trainer] Richard [Collett] thought she was capable of winning over 1100m first up, he had the option of going to Canterbury in a fortnight’s time to another Xtra Bonus race but he thought the track would suit her here and as soon as she drew barrier one we knew it was the right decision.”
A $100,000 Inglis Classic purchase for her trainer from the Vinery Stud draft, Essay is the first foal of unraced Written Tycoon mare Written Star, who comes from the family of champion sire Zoustar.
The following division of the maiden was won by the Kerry Parker trained 4YO Cool Aza Beel mare Southern Grace, who was having her fourth race start after some handy runs in strong provincial maidens.
She settled back in the field and let down with a good finish to round up the leaders and win by a neck for Chad Lever.
“We’re absolutely delighted to get the result,” Proven Thoroughbreds’ Tom Walter said.
“We’ve found this Inglis Race Series initiative to be an inspired one and something that benefits racing as a whole, more than any other.
“It’s very important that we nurture these maidens because it’s often the most important win in the career of a horse and the first opportunity for owners to recoup their investment.
“Our owners are delighted and I’m also honoured to be responsible for hitting the $7m milestone because it’s an initiative we’ve benefitted from and we hope to for many years to come.”
New winner for Cool Aza Beel and a share of the @inglis_sales Xtra bonus money Southern Grace (4m Cool Aza Beel x Loving Gracie) 45k buy for @ProvenTbreds & @kjparkerracing from @NewhavenPark at @inglis_sales Premier Season winner 13 for the sire https://t.co/bepFvJMSYE
— Breednet (@BreednetNews) November 13, 2026
A $45,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Proven Thoroughbreds / Kerry Parker Racing from Newhaven Park, Southern Grace is the first foal of Loving Gracie(NZ), a winning Per Incanto (USA) half-sister to stakes-winner Nigella Lane from Group winner Casabella Lane.
