Horse Racing

Following the action of the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast, juvenile racing heads south this weekend with the Inglis 2YO Classic 2012 to take centre stage at Rosehill Gardens.

Inglis Nursery winner Diamond Earth is the best performing two-year-old heading into Saturday's 2012 Inglis Classic

One of Sydney’s most successful trainers, Ms Gai Waterhouse enjoyed her fourth Magic Millions Classic victory this year when taking out the quinella with exciting fillies Driefontein and No Looking Back.

While the lightly-raced, Nash Rawiller-ridden No Looking Back was officially first over the line, the punters’ pick Driefontein and last year’s winning hoop Tommy Berry were awarded first prize upon protest.

With the $1 million 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes in Melbourne next month and then April’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper 2012 fast approaching, Waterhouse will look to uncover another ace two-year-old this weekend.

She has nominated Snippetsboy for the $250,000 2YO Inglis Classic (1200m), the Inglis graduate restricted clash attracting 17 early entries this year.

A $60,000 purchase from last year’s Sydney Classic Yearling Sales, Snippetson gelding Snippetsboy makes their race debut on Saturday following a narrow barrier trial win over 858 metres at Randwick’s Kensington track back on January 3.

Despite staring over 1200 metres first-up, Waterhouse believes Snippetsboy has the ability to put it to their more seasoned rivals.

“Hi is a Snippetson that trialled well about 10 days ago,” she said.

“We think he could measure up.”

Eleven of the 17 Inglis Classic 2012 nominees have previous race experience, but only three have enjoyed an early career win with the David Payne-trained Risky Blonde, Brett Thompson’s Mudgee-based filly Classical Melody and Diamond Earth from the stables of Anthony Cummings.

If accepted for Saturday’s showdown well-bred Choisir filly from Strategic mare Face Of The Earth Diamond Earth will be shooting for their third straight turf triumph.

After finishing six and a half lengths away eighth to Blue Diamond Stakes-bound Jimando in the Listed Inglis Debutants Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield back in October, Diamond Earth went on to score a gritty win in the Inglis Banner (1000m) at Moonee Valley 10 days later.

Sent for a break after her maiden win, she resumed on December 17 posting a three-quarter length victory over Waterhouse’s Encosta De Lago colt De Shamekh in the Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Warwick Farm.

De Shamekh produced a brilliant three and a half length Rosehill win in the Australian Turf Club Plate (1100m) last Saturday, making the form-line for Diamond Earth heading into the Inglis Classic an imposing one.

“Before Saturday (and the Magic Millions Classic) she was the top-earning two-year-old in the country,” Cummings said of Diamond Earth who has netted a tidy $326,500 in earnings to date.

“She has done very well in these Inglis races.

“It is a great series for these sort of horses and when you have a good one you need to take advantage of it.

“She is precocious and a perfect horse for this series.”

Only tested up to 1000 metres so far, Cummings is confident Diamond Earth will get the 1200 metres on Saturday and continue her Inglis Series domination.

“After the win at Moonee Valley in the spring I was confident that she would run a strong 1200 metres and I haven’t changed my mind about that,” he said.

“We rode her to use her speed at Warwick Farm and I don’t think we will be doing that on Saturday.

“We ride her with a sit like we did in Melbourne.”

To be ridden by Peter Robl who was aboard for the Inglis Nursery win, Diamond Earth is out to become the third horse in as many years to secure the Inglis Nursery – Inglis Classic double following the since retired Michael Tubman-trained Chance Bye (2010) and John Thompson’s subsequent Group 1 performer Pane In The Glass (2011).

Stay tuned to Races.com.au to view the 2012 Inglis 2YO Classic field out on Wednesday.

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2012 Inglis 2YO Classic Nominations

Rosehill 21/01/2012