Alma Vale eyes major juvenile prizes as Inglis Classic Sale beckons
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds will have one eye firmly on the racetrack and the other on the sale ring this weekend, with three of the farm’s graduates lining up in Australia’s major juvenile features on Saturday ahead of a significant draft of 22 yearlings at the Inglis Classic Sale, which begins on Sunday.
Launched in July 2023, Alma Vale has rapidly established a sizable footprint in the Hunter Valley, now operating across more than 1000 acres over three properties.
Managed by Verna Metcalfe, the farm has enjoyed notable early success since launching its standalone operation, with three two-year-olds sold across last year’s yearling sales now emerging at the top level.
The headline runner on Saturday is Star Of Jamaica, who became Newgate freshman sire Profiteer’s (Capitalist) first winner when breaking his maiden by 1.8 lengths over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast on January 24.
Trained by Chris and Corey Munce, the colt will be ridden by Zac Lloyd when he lines up in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) at Randwick. He was purchased for $85,000 by his trainers from Alma Vale’s draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, adding another layer of significance for the farm.
“It’s awesome,” stud manager Oscar Engelbrecht told ANZ News. “It’s where we want to be, racing on the big days. For our first standalone draft, to have a runner in that race is pretty special. It will be a big day for everyone, all the team at home as well need a lot of thanks, they deserve a lot of the credit as well.”
“We sold him as a foal [for $12,000 at the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale] and the people that bought him put him back through our Classic Yearling Sale draft, so he was born and raised with us, reared on the farm. It’s nice to see them come through our system and be at the big days.”
Alma Vale will also be represented in Victoria, where Almost An Angel (So You Think) contests the Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (Gr 2, 1100m) at Caulfield. Trained by Robbie Griffiths, the filly made a perfect start to her career with an impressive debut victory over 1000 metres at Caulfield Heath in November before finishing tenth in the Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) later that month. She resumes following a break with Damian Lane engaged.
The daughter of So You Think (High Chaparral) was purchased by Griffiths in partnership with Peter Ford Thoroughbreds for just $30,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and Engelbrecht said her rise highlights the value available across the major sales.
“We’ve actually had a very good run with our two year olds so far. To have an $85,000 and $30,000 yearling both pre-Christmas two-year-olds, it’s a pretty big deal. They’re not expensive horses, it just shows you can come to these sales and buy value, and race on the big days.”
Perhaps the most exciting runner of the day for the farm is Savage Look (Wild Ruler), who contests the Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m) at Randwick. A debut winner at Scone, the gelding was the first horse to race and win in Alma Vale’s new teal colours and will line up from barrier five under Reece Jones for Rodney Northam.
Purchased for $130,000 from Newgate’s draft at the 2024 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Savage Look was retained to race by Alma Vale after being passed in at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when failing to meet his $200,000 reserve.
“He was the first runner in our silks, and he obviously won his first start, so it was a big day for everyone,” Engelbrecht said. “Again, this is where we want to be at Randwick on the big days, and it’s nice to see all of everyone’s hard work is coming to fruition.
“Everyone’s very excited, but with two year old races, you never really know. He has drawn a good gate and we’ll cross our fingers.
“It’s a big credit to everyone here and at home on the farm. It’s why we all do it, to produce racehorses and be on these big two-year-old races.”
From Sunday, Alma Vale’s focus will turn fully to the Inglis Classic Sale at Riverside Stables, where the operation will present their 22-strong draft across the three days of selling.
One of the standout offerings is Lot 212, a filly by Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) out of Monte Invincible (I Am Invincible), herself a half-sister to Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Shooting To Win and pensioned Newgate sire Deep Field, that pair both by Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago) and out of Listed winner Listen Here (Elusive Quality).
“Obviously, it’s a huge pedigree,” Engelbrecht said. “Being out of an I Am Invincible mare who is a half sister to Shooting To Win and Deep Field. She’s got a big action, and she looks like she’ll go early. She’s been very busy. She’s the busiest horse in the draft at the moment.”
Another key lot is 674, a colt by Kia Ora Stud’s Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) out of Blonde Venture (Capitalist), a dead-heat winner of the 2022 Tasmanian Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m).
Blonde Venture comes from a strong black-type family featuring legendary sire Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice), Group 1 winner Oohood (I Am Invincible) and Coolmore Stud’s young sire King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice), and Engelbrecht expects the colt to appeal strongly to buyers seeking early speed.
“He’s a really nice horse out of a Magic Millions two-year-old winning Capitalist mare. He looks like he’ll be a fast, early two-year-old.”
Lot 444, a colt by Stay Inside out of Snitzyka (Snitzel), has also proven popular during what has been a busy period of inspections for the farm.
“The family is speed on speed,” Engelbrecht said. “Really nice horse, he’s been going down well. Stay Inside is going well, and being out of a Snitzel mare is what everyone looks for, those good broodmare sires.
“We’ve been run off our feet. We’ve done 60 cards, and it’s only 1:30pm, so hopefully they all go well.”
Selling gets underway at Sydney’s Riverside Stables at 10am (AEDT) on Sunday.