In a significant move, the Millennium will now become the only auction house-restricted race to have a portion of its prizemoney count toward the official Golden Slipper Order Of Entry.
The ATC has agreed that $69,500 of the winners’ prizemoney will count toward the Golden Slipper ballot, which is the equivalent of a Sydney minimum Listed race for 2-year-olds.
It will make the race a much more attractive path to Australia's richest 2-year-old race for Inglis graduates, while it has also been confirmed that the race will be shifted to Randwick from Warwick Farm from 2021.
“This is something we have been working toward since even before the inaugural Inglis Millennium had been run and with the hard work of the ATC and Racing NSW, this is a great result for all breeders, owners, trainers and overall racing participants," Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said.
Mark Webster
“The Inglis Millennium has already announced itself as one of Australia’s primary 2-year-old races and a key lead-up to the Golden Slipper, Inglis Sires' and Champagne S. and the fact a portion of the prizemoney will now be treated as official qualification for the Slipper is a fantastic outcome."
“The Inglis Millennium has already announced itself as one of Australia’s primary 2-year-old races and a key lead-up to the Golden Slipper, Inglis Sires' and Champagne S." - Mark Webster
Webster said Inglis has worked closely with the ATC's Jamie Barkley and James Ross to get the changes made. A similar agreement is in place in Victoria when it comes to the qualification for the G1 Blue Diamond S. , which accounts for prizemoney from all sale-restricted races.
The Millennium was introduced in 2019 as a highlight 2-year-old race for Inglis sale graduates and to provide greater support for Inglis' clients.
Castelvecchio winning the Inglis Millennium in 2019 | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The inaugural edition was won by subsequent G1 Champagne S. and Rosehill Guineas winner Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}) for young trainer Richard Litt at just his second start. He was a $150,000 Inglis Classic Sale buy in 2018.
The 2020 race, which was initially postponed because of rain, was won by Prime Star (Starspangledbanner) for Richard and Michael Freedman. A $55,000 buy for China Horse Club at the 2019 Inglis Classic Sale, he hasn't raced since that race in February having suffered an injury.
Inglis has also confirmed that the Inglis Millennium will stay at $2 million in prizemoney in 2021 while the Inglis Sprint will again be run for $1 million in what will be the last time that race will be run in Sydney.
Prime Star winning the 2020 Inglis Millennium
Sprint on the move
The Inglis Sprint will move to Flemington from 2022 and be run on G1 Australian Guineas day in a major boost for Victoria.
Flemington will also host a brand-new race, the Inglis Bracelet, a $250,000 contest for fillies and mares over 1600 metres, on Oaks Day in November starting in 2020.
Other changes to the Race Series see the 2YO Inglis Challenge at Scone doubling its prizemoney to $200,000 from 2021. It will be open to all yearlings sold at Scone, the Highway Session at Inglis Classic, the Showcase Session at Inglis Premier, the Melbourne Gold Sale and online through Inglis Digital.
Fiesta won the Inglis Sprint in 2019
“The Race Series is a hugely rewarding part of our business and gives our clients - breeders, vendors, buyers, trainers and owners – the chance to compete for big money against other Inglis horses,’’ Webster said.
“These changes we announce today will have a positive impact on so many of those clients.
“I would also like to thank the Victoria Racing Club for their enthusiasm in accepting our new initiative, the Inglis Bracelet on Oaks Day as well as hosting the Inglis Sprint as a feature race on what is already a magnificent day’s racing on Australian Guineas Day, a day before the start of our Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands each year.’’
“I would also like to thank the Victoria Racing Club for their enthusiasm in accepting our new initiative." - Mark Webster
The Inglis Race Series is open to all registered horses which have been offered for sale at Inglis' full catalogue of sales. The 2020 list of Sales includes those already sold through the Classic, Premier or Easter Sales, and any registered horses offered at the upcoming Easter Round 2, Scone, Melbourne Gold or Ready2Race Sales, as well as weanlings purchased at the 2019 Australian Weanling or Great Southern Sales. It is also open to any yearlings sold through the Inglis Digital online platform from January 2020 to July 2020.
Registrations for 2020 close on July 31, with fees of $3300 (inc GST) for yearlings offered at Easter Round 1, Easter Round 2, Premier and Classic or $1650 (inc GST) for yearlings offered at Classic Highway Session, Premier Showcase Session, Melbourne Gold, Scone and Inglis Digital, 2YOs from the Ready2Race Sale and weanlings sold at the 2019 Australian Weanling or Great Southern Sales.
