Racing
Nursery attracts them from far and wide
From $1.2m to $1250, broad cross-section represented in Inglis Nursery
Vatican will command most of the headlines in the lead-up to Saturday's $400,000 Inglis Nursery, but the race underlines not only the egalitarian nature of Australian racing but the avenues available to buy a horse from Inglis.
Vatican is a son of Coolmore's former star shuttle stallion Wootton Basset, is trained by Chris Waller and cost $1.2 million at this year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
He is the only horse in the field out of Inglis's biggest sale of the year and cost more than the rest of the field combined.
The purchase prices of the nine other runners in the race combined adds up to $1,160,250.
Just $1250 of that was contributed by the cheapest horse in the race, Where's The Circus.
That daughter of Trapeze Artist, who is trained by Paul Murray at Kemble Grange, was sold not long after turning one in last year's late September Inglis Digital offering.
Where's The Circus heads into Saturday's 1000-metre event off one public trial, which resulted in a half-length win at her home track.
Also engaged are Coolazcanbe, a daughter of Cool Aza Beel, who cost just $14,000 at the HTBA Sale in April, while Dirty Work filly Regal Hustle cost $35,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale.
That was the same sale that produced Sheza Boom, a $120,000 daughter of Spirit Of Boom, while Vatican's stablemate Billiecart Blue, a daughter of Blue Point, cost $120,000 at the Premier Sale in Melbourne.
The second most expensive yearling in Saturday's race, $440,000 Home Affairs colt Internal Affairs, was also bought out of Melbourne, while Elio (Ole Kirk) and Bohemian Rhapsody (Prague) cost $250,000 and $200,000 respectively out of Classic.
To Dubai We Go (Hellbent) is the only horse in the race who was not sold, passed in after failing to reach her $60,000 reserve at Classic.
Elio and Bohemian Rhapsody are battling out favouritism for the Nursery with Elio, who is in the care of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, a recent trial winner after his debut fourth in the Max Lees Classic, while Bohemian Rhapsody is up from Melbourne after a third in the Inglis Banner.
Vatican holds down the third line of betting and preparations have included two trials, the latest of which was a half-length second in an 895m hitout at Canterbury when he went to line under a tight hold.
The Inglis Nursery has a proven ability to throw feature winners with the first two editions won by Blue Diamond hero Extreme Choice and Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign, while Group 1 winner Wild Ruler and popular stallion Acrobat also adorn the honour roll.
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