Fully Lit scores rich win in the Inglis Millennium
Tulloch Lodge has continued its incredible strikerate with two-year-olds, this time plundering the $2 million Inglis Millennium with unassuming colt Fully Lit.
The stable has produced 12 individual juvenile winners this season and co-trainer Adrian Bott says Fully Lit will be considered for a start in the Blue Diamond Stakes in Melbourne after overcoming a wide run to race away with Saturday’s 1100-metre showpiece.
“He’s certainly going in the right direction, that’s for sure,” Bott said.
“Obviously it was a restricted race today so we’ll look at the options, whether we are tempted by a Blue Diamond.
“We kept him in calculations there, (or) he may stay here in one of the (Golden) Slipper lead-ups…to give him that opportunity to see how he does stack up against the grade, because every time we’ve raised the bar he’s responded in a big way.”
After showing speed to win on debut at Rosehill last month, Fully Lit ($2.80 fav) didn’t jump as cleanly in the Inglis Millennium, although jockey Regan Bayliss didn’t panic and was content to track wide.
The youngster let down strongly in the straight and found plenty under pressure to defeat Rue De Royale ($6.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Rag Queen ($31) storming late to grab third, another half-head away.
“He won so well on debut it was hard to ignore this race,” Bott said.
“I’m so proud of the horse, the way he won today. Obviously from a wide draw, he was a little bit on the back foot out of the gates but he settled well, covered a bit of ground, and it was great to see how strong he was through the line.”
Bayliss said he has supreme confidence in Fully Lit and wasn’t afraid to camp wide given the way the track had been playing earlier in the day.
“I was quite happy giving him a bang out, and I was so confident in the horse, I was happy to sit three-deep and just get him into a rhythm,” Bayliss said.
“There’s no ceiling on this horse. I just think that he’s going to keep improving and, as I said, it was a gutsy win.”
Chasing his third consecutive Inglis Millennium, Chad Schofield fell just short on Rue De Royale, who could also be Blue Diamond-bound.
“He chased hard and will improve from the run fitness-wise,” Schofield said.
Jockey Jason Collett was taken with the performance of Rag Queen, who at $15,000 was the cheapest runner in the race.
“She has a lot of growing up to do but she was really strong late. She’ll be worth the wait with the engine she’s got,” Collett said.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...