The Inglis Classic has long been a favourite of Linda Duckworth and Heather McKinnon who operate the picturesque Grose Wold based farm.
“The Classic has always been a very realistic sale, where professional breeders and buyers can do business without having to think in millions. If you present the right product there’s a strong buying bench to give vendors reasonable returns. I think my faith has been justified as I’ve watched the average for the Classic climb to a very healthy 120k last year. So we are taking a very strong draft of 15 yearlings to Classic 2023 at Riverside, buoyed by the confidence of selling 21 of our 23 Book One youngsters in the two most recent editions. We have always set realistic reserves and buyers can expect the same in 2023.”
Fairview Park’s record in producing Inglis Race Series winners is testament to the hard work done by Linda and her team for each and every sale they attend. Recent Inglis Bonus winners include the first start $200k Inglis 2yo Scone Challenge winner Vegas Raider (38k yearling), Inglis Millennium winner Prime Star, The Art Of Flying who was placed in the Inglis Banner and of course Golden Slipper winner Mossfun who won the Inglis Nursery at her first start. It’s a record any farm would be proud of.
An overview of the Fairview draft indicates that Linda and her hard working team should have a successful sale. The five colts and 10 fillies are by a strong mixture of proven sires and such exciting freshmen as Brutal, Pierata and Yes Yes Yes. But there’s more, for this draft is studded with yearlings from the immediate families of leading Gr1 winners and successful sires which appear close up on each yearling’s page.
There are five colts on offer, a pair each by successful young sires Star Turn and Rubick, whose son Jacquinot has really enhanced his reputation, and a pair by Pierata who shapes up as one of the most exciting first season sires of recent years with his stock attracting high praise from several renowned judges.
The 10 Fairview fillies are by Gr1 freshman Brutal, another freshman, explosive The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, with the remaining eight all by proven sires spearheaded by the great So You Think.
The highlights include: Lot 369 a Rubick colt from the family of Champion 2yo Victory Vein and multiple Gr1 winner Shadow Hero; Lot 522 a So You Think filly from the family of international Gr1 winner and $3.8million earner Cape Of Good Hope; Lot 583 a filly by emerging sire talent Hellbent from the family of Cox Plate winner and outstanding sire Shamus Award; Lot 622 a Pierata colt whose second dam is a half-sister to Cox Plate winner and perennial Champion NZ sire Savabeel; Lot 699 a Flying Artie filly from the family of Stradbroke winner Srikandi; and Lot 715 a Star Turn filly from the family of international super sprinter and wonderful sire Choisir.
With eight youngsters in Book 1 and seven in the Highway session there will be something to suit buyers in all price ranges.
Linda Duckworth offered some comments about her draft:
Lot 334 “Our Star Turn – Commonwealth colt is a big strong yearling who looks like he will be an early runner. Star turn is now a leading 3rd crop sire with over 40 winners this season as we speak, so this colt should attract plenty of interest.”
Lot 369 “Our Rubick colt out of Devolving is simply a lovely horse. He’s another big, powerful likely early 2yo. Jacquinot and Yes Yes Yes have shown how good the Rubick juvenile colts are.”
Lot 583 “Our Hellbent filly out of Magita is out of a 100% winner producing mare from Shamus Award’s family. She’s a beautiful, well grown filly by a promising young sire and looks another early prospect.”
Lot 654 “Our Pierata colt is out of On Our Honour who is by successful broodmare sire Fastnet Rock whose daughters have produced six stakes horses by Pierro, so this cross should work. He’s a lovely colt with a great attitude who will appeal to buyers.”
Linda, Heather and their team will be ready as usual to parade the Fairview yearlings for inspection in Barn I stables 1 – 16.
This article is from the November/December edition of Bluebloods, Subscribe to BLUEBLOODS