2022 Inglis Millennium runner-by-runner preview & betting tips
| What | Inglis Millennium |
| Where | Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 |
| When | Saturday, February 5, 2022 |
| Prizemoney | $2,000,000 |
| Distance | 1100m |
| Status | Restricted Listed |
| Conditions | Two-Year-Olds | Set Weights |
| 2021 Winner | Profiteer (5) | Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr | Jockey: Hugh Bowman (56.6kg) |
| Watch Live | |
Royal Randwick will host the fourth instalment of the $2 million Inglis Millennium for two-year-olds purchased out of the Inglis sales in 2021. The relatively young race has already been won by some star gallopers, including Castelvecchio and Profiteer. A capacity field of 16 (plus one emergency) has been assembled for the 1100m sprint.
Four horses head into the Inglis Millennium undefeated, including the $3.30 favourite, Sejardan. The market has it down to two horses, with Paris Dior ($3.80) the only other runner in single figures.
Unbeaten gallopers Sweet Ride and Xtravagant Star are the likely leaders, while Athletica has shown early speed in his two starts. Sejardan and Paris Dior have drawn alongside each other in barriers nine and 10 respectively, with the latter likely to settle in the first half a dozen, while Sejardan has settled in the second half of the field in his two wins to date.
Keep reading for HorseBetting’s full runner-by-runner preview and $100 betting strategy.
Sejardan
1. SEJARDAN (9)
2yo C | T: Gary Portelli | J: Jason Collett (56.5kg)
The 2021 Breeders’ Plate winner has been impressive in his two starts to date, coming from near last on both occasions to win stylishly. The son of Sebring cruised to a 1.2-length win on debut before going to the $1 million Golden Gift a month later and winning by a quarter of a length over the fast-finishing Shalatin. In both of the colt’s wins he has drawn barrier 10, so coming up with barrier nine on Saturday isn’t going to be anything too dissimilar from what he is used to. Jason Collett knows him extremely well, and the horse is already proven over 1100m, so he’s a deserving favourite in our book.
El Padrino
2. EL PADRINO (8)
2yo C | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Jamie Kah (56.5kg)
We don’t often see Jamie Kah ride in Sydney, so when she heads north for one particular ride, it’s important to pay attention. El Padrino has done nothing wrong in his two starts to date, going down narrowly on debut on a Heavy 10 track at Cranbourne before heading to Randwick on December 11 and winning the Inglis Nursery well. The colt by Street Boss has since trialled at Warwick Farm and was good winning there under Tommy Berry. He comes from a leading stable with a leading jockey on board, so he has to be respected.
Calgary Stampede
3. CALGARY STAMPEDE (5)
2yo C | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Tommy Berry (56.5kg)
The Snowdens are among the top trainers of two-year-olds in Australia, so we can’t completely disregard Calgary Stampede on Saturday, although he will have to improve a touch. The Snitzel colt won a fairly weak 2YO Maiden on debut before finishing second in the Nursery behind El Padrino in his most recent start. Calgary Stampede trialled at this track over 1050m on January 24 and finished 2.5 lengths away from the winner, although he wasn’t asked for an effort. He’s not out of this race, but he just needs to take the next step now.
Sweet Ride
4. SWEET RIDE (2)
2yo C | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Jean Van Overmeire (56.5kg)
Sweet Ride was impressive winning at his only start on January 15, leading all of the way over 1100m at Rosehill. The son of Deep Field was quick to find the front on that occasion on a day when a lot of leaders won. Despite being in the best ground, the colt gave a good kick inside the furlong marker to race away and win by two lengths. He’s proven at the distance and has an advantageous racing style, but we don’t think he quite has the class as some of these.
Athletica
5. ATHLETICA (11)
2yo C | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Tim Clark (56.6kg)
If there’s a training partnership better than the Snowdens when it comes to youngsters, it’s Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott. Their two-year-olds are almost always early runners who have speed to burn. Athletica fits that model to a tee; he led all of the way on debut at Newcastle over 900m, before showing enough early toe to lead the field in the Inglis Nursery at his second start, running third. Tim Clark will have to use him up early from barrier 11 to find the front, which could cost this son of Exceed And Excel at the business end.
Boldinho
6. BOLDINHO (4)
2yo C | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Hugh Bowman (56.5kg)
If, like us, you backed Boldinho in the Inglis Nursery, you probably haven’t gotten over it yet. Having impressed when wide throughout on debut at Caulfield to run second behind Ebhaar, the son of Brazen Beau was a well-supported $2.35 favourite in his second start and was a deadset certainty beaten. If you were on him that day, you couldn’t have asked for a better run in transit. He box-seated from barrier three and travelled sweetly throughout, but the run just never came. Hugh Bowman knows what it takes to win this race, so he will be looking to go back-to-back and make amends for the last start. He’s a definite winning chance on Saturday from the good gate.
Pomade
7. POMADE (14)
2yo C | T: Kris Lees | J: Regan Bayliss (56.5kg)
Kris Lees and Regan Bayliss combine with a debut Doomben winner in Pomade. The son of Star Turn was impressive when leading most of the way over 1050m and defeating Bessmati, who is set to go around in the opener at Randwick on Saturday. After jumping well, the colt was sent forward by Andrew Mallyon and gave a good kick in the straight and looked as though he would win by a length or two, but he was very green and didn’t want to completely knuckle down. The wide alley won’t help his chances on Saturday, but if he improves like he should, he can be very competitive. Keep a close eye on Race 1 at Doomben, as anything Bessmati does, Pomade should be able to do too.
Zambezi River
8. ZAMBEZI RIVER (12)
2yo C | T: Chris Waller | J: Joshua Parr (56.5kg)
The sole Chris Waller-trained galloper in this field is the $1.15 million yearling purchase Zambezi River. The son of I Am Invincible ran home strongly on debut to finish second behind Sejardan in the Breeders’ Plate and has since trialled twice in preparation for this race. While Zambezi River is yet to win a trial, he is quite often thereabouts, including a fourth in his most recent hitout behind Robusto and Rakomelo at Rosehill over 900m. The prizemoney for winning connections is $10,000 more than what he was purchased for, and we wouldn’t be completely surprised to see him pay his owners back.
Emperor
9. EMPEROR (6)
2yo C | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Kerrin McEvoy (56.5kg)
Matt Dunn’s colt Emperor has only had two starts and he has raced under two different names. On debut, the son of I Am Invincible raced as Genghis Khan, before stepping out in a 2YO Handicap on January 22 as Emperor. In both starts the colt finished third, running a bold race on both occasions. On debut, he led the Breeders’ Plate field and just faded to run third, before coming from near last behind Plymstock in his second start. He should appreciate getting out to 1100m on Saturday, while barrier six gives him a great chance. He’s not out of this.
The Wizard King
10. THE WIZARD KING (3)
2yo C | T: Shawn Mathrick | J: Sam Clipperton (56.5kg)
Victorian visitor The Wizard King is yet to fire a shot in his two starts, running eighth on debut at Flemington in the Maribyrnong Trial before going to the Inglis Banner at The Valley on Cox Plate Day and running seventh. He hasn’t had an official trial since his last start in late October and doesn’t bring good enough form into a race like this, so the $101 seems about right. He has drawn well in gate three, and Sam Clipperton will be riding full of confidence after riding a winning double at Rosehill last weekend.
Fire And Ice
11. FIRE AND ICE (16)
2yo C | T: Mark Minervini | J: Tom Sherry (56.5kg)
Fire And Ice looked pretty smart when winning a trial on the synthetic surface at Warwick Farm on December 30, leading all of the way under a tight hold to defeat subsequent winner Sandpaper. The colt by Hellbent made his debut behind Plymstock, getting a fair way back in the run before working home well to run fourth, beaten just over a length. Barrier 16 might put an end to his chances, however.
Vaderzan
12. VADERZAN (1)
2yo G | T: Gary Portelli | J: Rachel King (56.5kg)
The sole gelding in this field is Gary Portelli’s Vaderzan. After narrowly winning a trial on December 16, the son of Invader went to the races a fortnight later, where he drifted from $6.50 out to $12 and ran accordingly, finishing seven lengths behind Paris Dior over 1100m. He ran a better race at Canberra on January 21, but he was still beaten five lengths when third. From the inside alley he should get a terrific run in transit, but it would take an immense form reversal for him to upset these.
Russian Assassin
13. RUSSIAN ASSASSIN (17)
2yo C | T: Lauri Parker | J: Jay Ford (56.5kg)
Russian Assassin is the sole debutant in this field, which the market clearly doesn’t like. Set to be sent out as the $201 outsider from the widest alley, this $80,000 yearling purchase doesn’t have a whole lot going for him, apart from the fact that he is by Russian Revolution. His two trials have been nothing special, so we’d be shocked to see him figure in the finish.
Paris Dior
14. PARIS DIOR (10)
2yo F | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: James McDonald (54.5kg)
The first of the three fillies in the race is the second favourite, Paris Dior. This runner by Golden Slipper-winning sire Pierro was dominant when breaking her maiden at Canterbury on January 7, racing away to win by 3.25 lengths. After being a touch unlucky on debut behind Man In The Mirror at Warwick Farm, she relished the step out to 1100m and proved to be far too good. James McDonald has opted to stick with her, which is a huge push, while barrier 10 allows him to cruise across and tuck in behind the speed. McDonald is quickly becoming the world’s best jockey, winning almost everything in Australia over the past 12 months, so an Inglis Millennium isn’t out of the question. Paris Dior is a genuine winning chance, and the market reflects that.
Xtravagant Star
15. XTRAVAGANT STAR (7)
2yo F | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Chad Schofield (54.5kg)
Having done enough to win on debut at Geelong, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Xtravagant Star will be looking to remain unbeaten in the Millennium. The filly by New Zealand stallion Xtravagant won a recent barrier trial at Randwick where she led all of the way, just like she did on debut, winning by half a length. From barrier seven, Cox Plate-winning hoop Chad Schofield is likely to look for the front once again, which will enable her to be in the race for a long, long way. We would have been more keen if Eros – who she beat on debut – franked the form by winning at The Valley in his most recent start, although she looked to have improved in her trial. Keep her safe.
The Seven Seas
16. THE SEVEN SEAS (15)
2yo F | T: John Sargent | J: Robbie Dolan (54.5kg)
The Seven Seas battled on gamely to run sixth on debut in the Inglis Nursery, finishing four lengths behind El Padrino and Calgary Stampede. The filly by Merchant Navy has trialled since then, running a narrow third at Randwick over 743m in what was one of the more slowly run two-year-old trials of the morning. She’s probably going to have to get back a fair way from barrier 15, so it will take a serious ride and a terrific run if she is to make a mockery of her $101 quote.
INGLIS MILLENNIUM EMERGENCIES
17EM1. NIPOTINO (13)
2yo C | T: John Thompson | J: Brock Ryan (56.5kg)
The first and only emergency in this field is the John Thompson-trained Nipotino. The Snitzel colt won his first trial on September 24, before going to the Breeders’ Plate on debut and running seven lengths back in last place. After a bit of time off, he resumed with a decent trial on January 24, running second behind Black Tahitian in what was the slowest time of the morning for the two-year-olds over 743m at Randwick. We can’t see him figuring if he gains a start.
2022 Inglis Millennium tips & best bets
Outside of the two market fancies, it is a wide-open affair, but it is extremely hard to go past Sejardan. In the first three runnings of this race, the best horse has won, and we believe Gary Portelli’s colt is the best horse in this field. Paris Dior scares the daylights out of us, especially considering she comes out of a top two-year-old stable and gets that man James McDonald in the saddle. Pomade brings down some solid Queensland form and should improve heaps off his debut win, so he goes into the numbers, while Boldinho doesn’t need to improve much off his luckless fourth in the Inglis Nursery to be competitive here.
Selections: 1-14-7-6
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $70 win | Serjadan ($3.30) |
| $15 each way | Pomade ($26/$7) |