Calgary Stampede as a yearling
The AUD500,000 Inglis Nursery is expected to be on the crosshairs of trainers Peter and Paul Snowden after debutant Calgary Stampede produced a slick win in the AUD50,000 Harry Angels @ Darley Handicap (1100m) At Rosehill Gardens yesterday.
The pre-Christmas event is restricted to graduates of Inglis yearling sales and is the first lucrative race of the Australian juvenile season. China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and partners will be bidding to continue their success in the sprint having scored with subsequent G1 winner Wild Ruler in 2019.
“Calgary Stampede is an Inglis graduate so that seems the likely stepping stone,” co-trainer Paul Snowden said post-race.
“He’d done everything right at home but put under race conditions he certainly floated around a little. He’s very casual so it’s good to get this out of the way and we can certainly learn from today.
“[Calgary Stampede] might be due for a little bit of head gear to help him focus up a bit. He’s got a good deal of ability and he just needs to realise that potential.
“There’s certainly a little bit of improvement left in him but his attitude and constitution at home, he takes everything in his stride which is what you want to see with a two-year-old.”
Calgary Stampede was secured by China Horse Club and Newgate Farm for AUD350,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and looks capable of quickly eating into that purchase price. The Newgate Farm graduate is the second winner out of former crack juvenile Nayeli and is another son of Snitzel to come through the syndicate’s system. Fellow Snitzel Inglis graduates to have raced for China Horse Club and Newgate Farm include headliners Russian Revolution (2 G1s), Wild Ruler (G1) and In The Congo (G1).
Calgary Stampede will have to build on his body of work to join these alumni but his initial steps are encouraging.
“That run today might even switch [Calgary Stampede] on a bit more. He does whatever you ask him. He put himself into the race, relaxed really well,” winning jockey Tommy Berry told media post-race.
“He hasn’t really had a good click up at home yet and that was probably the first time he’s come off the bridle and had to find something. I was really happy with his last 100(m), he stretched out really well.”
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