Feature racing returns to Royal Randwick Racecourse this Saturday with the running of the $2m Inglis Millennium. First run in 2019, the 1100m set weights feature has vastly become a key target for two-year-olds, whilst also being used as a significant lead up race for those heading towards the Golden Slipper.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy prepared, Xtravagant Star, was too strong in last year’s Inglis Millennium, after securing a dream run behind the leaders. She drew clear in the final stages to defeat Paris Dior and Sejardan in convincing fashion.
Last start Widden Stakes winner, Learning To Fly, has come up favourite with Dabble for this year’s race at $2.90. Inglis Nursery placegetter Blanc De Blanc is on the second line at $5.50 ahead of Kundalini at $7.50 and Facile at $8.00. Lazzago is the other runner in single figures at $8.50 after a sizzling debut effort.
However, we know anything can happen in horse racing, especially when it comes to a capacity field of lightly raced two-year-olds. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 Inglis Millennium along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Arkansaw Kid (18) – $16
Jockey – Rachel King 56.5kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes
Was sent out a short priced favourite on debut at Moonee Valley in the $500,000 Inglis Banner and got the job done on a very heavy surface. Has since won a trial at Warwick Farm in good style. Not sure how strong the form is out of the debut race but couldn’t have done much more. Barrier draw puts a big dent in his chances but should be competitive if they decide to go around.
The final field is out for Saturday’s $2m Inglis Millennium. Can the Golden Slipper favourite Learning To Fly overcome a wide draw? Will an interstate rival take the cash away? Who do you like? pic.twitter.com/1aEWz6SfR5
— Inglis (@inglis_sales) February 6, 2023
2. Mexico (13) – $18
Jockey – Brett Prebble 56.5kg
Trainer – Michael Freedman
Honest run on debut behind Arkansaw Kid on a bog track at The Valley before an even effort behind Barber at Rosehill. Recent trials have been very strong, including his latest on Monday. Biggest worry is his pre-race behaviour, after he was taken out at the gates last Saturday. If everything goes right and he gets a bit of luck from the tricky alley, he should be right in the finish.
3. Coincide (14) – $41
Jockey – Tim Clark 56.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Ran well behind the smart Barber both runs in his first prep, including a close up second on debut in the Kirkham Plate. First up this time in he was sent out favourite and was found wanting late behind Don Corleone. Will be improved by that run and races well here at Randwick. Guessing the instructions will be to go forward again from the wide draw and he should be in it for a long way.
4. Hellish (12) – $34
Jockey – Joshua Parr 56.5kg
Trainer – Danny O’Brien
Tried hard on debut behind Krakarib down the straight at Flemington before a solid second to Veecee at the same venue. Has been given a hitout at the Cranbourne trials since with blinkers on and looked good. Will probably let the speed go early and try to find some cover from the middle draw. Not sure his form on paper is strong enough to win a race of this nature but the blinkers may spark the improvement necessary and is worth including in trifectas and first fours.
5. Celui (3) – $31
Jockey – Jett Stanley (a) 56.5kg
Trainer – Brent Stanley
Led them up on debut at Bendigo and sprinted well to record a strong win and some good late sectionals. He was then sent north and found one better at Canberra, but was far from disgraced. Steps up to 1100m now in a high pressure race which is some concern but is drawn soft. Apprentice jockey Jett Stanley does the steering and will be in the good books with the old man if he can land the chocolates here, but others look to have stronger form lines.
6. The Player (15) – $126
Jockey – Brock Ryan 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Munce
Sat behind the speed on debut at the Sunshine Coast and got up in the last hop to defeat Mishani Raider. Heads south now to contest what looks a much tougher assignment and has been dealt no favours by the barrier draw. Will need a lot to go his way if he’s to cause an upset here.
You can really feel Autumn ramping up!@ally_mosley and @BenWayAUS preview two of this weekend’s feature races, The Apollo Stakes and The Inglis Millennium! pic.twitter.com/wUXdExpClq
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 9, 2023
7. Saltaire (17) – $19
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 54.5kg
Trainer – John O’Shea
Chased hard on debut over 900m at Newcastle before a good win at Rosehill in the Inglis Nursery, where she was too strong for race favourite Facile. Was given an easy hitout at the trials recently where she looked to go through her gears in style. Barrier is a big blow but should come in a few after the scratchings and must be considered an each-way chance on what we’ve seen of her so far.
8. Learning To Fly (19) – $2.90F
Jockey – Chad Schofield 54.5kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Sat outside the leader and fought off the challenge of Steel City to score a solid victory on debut in the G3 Widden Stakes. She clocked faster time than the boys on the day and should be well suited by the big Randwick track here. Another who has been dealt a bad hand after the barrier draw but with some luck will be right in the finish.
9. Facile (1) – $8.00
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 54.5kg
Trainer – Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Was sent out a short quote on debut after some very strong trial form and led everywhere bar the post, only to be nutted on the line by Saltaire. Has since trialled at Warwick Farm where she was ridden a bit quieter and found the line nicely. They have options from the inside gate which is handy and off the strength of her only start, will be in the race for a long way.
10. Lazzago (9) – $8.50
Jockey – William Pike 54.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Drifted in the betting on debut but was too strong for her rivals here at this track and distance. She ran some good late splits on that occasion and has trialled up well leading into this. She should land a good spot from the middle draw and the stable have a big opinion of her which is a good push. Big watch.
11. Blanc De Blanc (16) – $5.50
Jockey – James McDonald 54.5kg
Trainer – Michael Freedman
Too nippy for her rivals on debut in a small field at Newcastle before a close up third to Saltaire and Facile in the Inglis Nursery. Another who has trialled well leading into this and jockey James McDonald sticks with her which is a big positive. She will need things to go her way early from the tricky gate but is another who can quite easily finish in the money.
This Saturday at #RoyalRandwick is shaping to be a huge meeting for Inglis Millennium Day! The running of the $2 million @Inglis_sales Millennium and two Group 2 races.
➡️Nominations: https://t.co/pVFTGRmxeq
🎟️Tickets: https://t.co/O8stZ7HEXS@NSWRacing @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/faIpbSWoe7— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) February 6, 2023
12. Divine Glory (11) – $71
Jockey – Tyler Schiller (a) 54.5kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Ran well on debut behind Platinum Jubilee in the G3 Gimcrack before a dominant win at Warwick Farm on wet ground. Resumed this preparation with a midfield effort in the G3 Widden Stakes behind Learning To Fly. Hard to see her turning the tables on that runner let alone some of the others here, but she should be fitter and has more race experience than most of these.
13. Perfect Proposal (2) – $61
Jockey – Regan Bayliss 54.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Looked home on debut in the G3 Gimcrack before being swamped late by her stablemate Platinum Jubilee. First up this prep she led and faded badly in the G3 Widden Stakes. Will show her customary speed from the low draw again here but the final furlong will be her biggest test.
14. Kundalini (5) – $7.00
Jockey – Jason Collett 54.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Rolled forward and fought on gamely to finish a solid second to Don Corleone on debut three weeks ago, spacing third. The step up to 1100m here looks ideal and she’s drawn to get a lovely trail. Collett is riding well and the Maher/Eustace stable are constantly in the headlines for the right reasons. Plenty to like.
15. Dorothy Gail (6) – $34
Jockey – Tom Marquand 54.5kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Led and held on well at her first start behind Lazzago before an easy win at Scone a fortnight ago. Another who should enjoy a nice run in transit from the good barrier and has done nothing wrong in her short career. Has to be considered an each-way chance.
16. Imminance (7) – $71
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 54.5kg
Trainer – Aaron Laing
Ran well on debut considering she was sent out an $81 chance before another nice effort at Pakenham last start. Going about things the right way but finds herself in a very strong field here. Would be a big thrill for young trainer Aaron Laing if she were to win, but others look to have her measure.
Speed Maps for Saturday’s @Inglis Millennium Raceday at ROYAL RANDWICK are now available – https://t.co/6i3v9ME7tU pic.twitter.com/5JefH8K6Bf
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 9, 2023
17e. Ganbare (20) – $81
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Heavily backed at Canberra on debut and won accordingly. Looks to have plenty of upside and may improve as the distances increase but this race is much harder and the barrier isn’t pretty. Look for him in something easier.
18e. Chasing A Quid (10) – $126
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Gratz Vella
Canberra based youngster who is yet to record a victory in four career starts. His latest runs behind Ganbare and Tavs have been good without winning but this looks a bridge too far.
19e. Chevron (8) – $101
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Kristen Buchanan
Wasn’t disgraced on debut in the G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill after losing touch with the field midrace. Will have taken plenty of improvement out of that and is drawn well here. Probably won’t get a start but isn’t the worst if he does.
20e. Chop The Ice (4) – $126
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Gratz Vella
Second of the Gratz Vella runners who has shown plenty of ability in two starts to date. Looks unlikely to gain a start here, which could be a blessing in disguise, as a maiden win looks just around the corner.
Final Word
It’s never easy finding the winner in a capacity field of lightly raced youngsters and this year’s Inglis Millennium looks a very even contest. There’s a host of differing form lines on paper but one thing looks certain and that’s a genuine tempo.
Not one but two starters in the $2 million @inglis_sales Millennium … good luck to the respective connections of Arkansaw Kid and Perfect Proposal. Both foaled, reared, raised and sold by @SledmereStud ! #proudfamilytradition #InglisClassic pic.twitter.com/cq1DhCjsH4
— Sledmere Stud (@SledmereStud) February 7, 2023
Happy to go with the Chris Waller trained Lazzago on top. Her debut win had plenty of merit and she’s trialled up very well leading into this. Waller made it clear in the post race interview after her debut that he had a big opinion of the filly and she looks to map well from the middle barrier. She’s already a winner here at Randwick over the 1100m and the Wizard heads east to take the ride. Plenty to like.
Thought Kundalini looked the danger after a strong debut run, despite finding one better. She ran into a smart one on that occasion in Don Corleone and they put a gap on the third horse. She looks suited by the rise in trip and is another who maps well from the good gate.
No real knock on the favourite Learning To Fly but she’s going to need things to fall into place from the gate. At the price on offer we’re happy to look elsewhere.
The Ryan/ Alexiou trained Facile is capable of running a race from the inside draw, as is the Capitalist filly Dorothy Gail at a big price, and Mexico has plenty of ability and can easily run into the money if he behaves himself.
Inglis Millennium Tip
10. Lazzago – Each-way ($8.50/$2.90)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
