The Circus comes to town!
$1,250 online buy stuns rivals with all-the-way Inglis Nursery win on debut
A rags to riches fairytale came true for battling trainer Paul Murray when $1,250 purchase Where’s The Circus (Trapeze Artist) stormed to an all-the-way victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Inglis Nursery (RL, 1000m) for two-year-olds at Randwick.
Kembla Grange-based Murray - son of the famed late trainer Bede - has 23 horses on his books and hadn’t had a winner since August 5, at Moruya.
But filly Where’s The Circus - whom he bought for that bargain basement price in last year’s Inglis Digital September (Late) Online Sale - brought the stable a windfall in landing $231,000 for winning the Nursery on debut.
She went in as an easing $51 bolter, up against several more vaunted opponents, although she did win her only barrier trial, by 0.5 lengths at Kembla on December 2.
And she was ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, who if not also in the “battler” category is mostly seen on the provincial circuit. That said, he also landed another feature with a longshot on his last visit to Randwick, when Sonofdec (Kermadec) won the $500,000 Four Pillars (1500m) at $19 on November 1.
Jumping from gate four of nine, Where’s The Circus speared straight to the front, finding the rail after 400 metres at a fair clip. Another longshot in Matt Smith’s $20 chance Regal Hustle (Dirty Work) made a challenge from second at the top of the straight, but Murray’s filly dropped her off to snatch what proved a winning break under hands and heels riding.
Pushed out, she scored by 1.16 lengths from Brad Widdup’s fast-finishing $2.70 equal-favourite Internal Affairs (Home Affairs), that colt becoming his much-vaunted sire’s third stakes horse from just nine runners, alongside two winners.
Regal Hustle filled third spot, co-favourite Bohemian Rhapsody (Prague) looked disappointing in eighth, while the Coolmore-Waller $1.2 million colt Vatican (Wootton Bassett) was strong through the line in fifth, hinting more distance would suit.
But the day belonged to the well-named Where’s The Circus - by Trapeze Artist out of Misplaced (Fastnet Rock) - and her emotional trainer Murray.
“I’d never even seen the filly when we bought her but I knew the family and we like buying these cheap ones on Inglis Digital and seeing what we can do with them and here we are, winning a $400,000 Inglis race,’’ Murray said.
“I haven’t really had a decent two-year-old for two or three years now so to have this girl come along and put herself up in lights, it’s exciting for everyone.
“I know she was a big price but we came here with a bit of confidence today, she’s been showing us a bit back home.
“We love Inglis Digital. Who would have thought five years ago that you could buy a yearling online with Inglis and they come out and win a feature race on debut worth $400,000.”
“We like buying these cheap ones on Inglis Digital and seeing what we can do with them and here we are, winning a $400,000 Inglis race
Murray said Where’s The Circus would be immediately spelled, with February’s $2 million Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) a likely target.
“We’d be mad not to,” said Murray, who also admitted his training business was “getting very hard”.
"I only have a handful of horses. I had to get rid of the older horses and just have one crack at having a go at getting a few nice two-year-olds and it looks like it's going to pay off.
“I said to Mum [Edie], this is our last crack at it, we’ll buy some two-year-olds this year.
“We’ve worked hard for them, and we might have another few years yet.
“It is a hard game, and for the battlers, so it’s really good. Hopefully she keeps going.”
Where's The Circus (AUS)
2yo: (14Sep23 b f)
Trainer: Paul Murray
Owner: Ms M J Ritchie, P A Murray Et Al
Sire: Trapeze Artist
Dam: Misplaced
Dam's Sire: Fastnet Rock
Breeder: Vieira Group Pty Ltd
Van Overmeire, who rode Where’s The Circus in her trial, said he had bitten the bullet to forego a full book of rides at Newcastle for his one mount at Randwick.
"It's always a bit tricky to do that, give up my provincial rides to come here, especially when I've only got one," said the winning rider.
"But my thinking was, each year this race is not always that strong and the way she trialled the other day, purely on how she felt, I thought it would be worthwhile giving her a test anyway.”
Bred by Trapeze Artist’s (Snitzel) owner-breeder Bert Vieira, and born and raised at that stallion’s home base of Widden Stud, Where’s The Circus continues a strong family connection for Murray and partner Michelle Ritchie, who strapped the filly.
She’s a half-sister to Can’t Find Snippy (Snippetson), who Richie and Murray bought for $14,000 at Inglis Classic in 2015. Ritchie prepared her for three wins and a stakes placing - third in the old Inglis Classic (RL, 1200m) at Randwick in 2016.
The couple also raced another of Misplaced’s winners in Where’s Snippy (Snippetson), a $600 weanling buy who won four country races.
Misplaced died aged 17 in January, but her last foal - a yearling brother to Where’s The Circus - will be offered as Lot 190 at the Inglis Classic Yealing Sale in February.
Where’s The Circus became the eighth stakes winner from 218 runners for Trapeze Artist, who stood this year for $33,000.
Regal Hustle was the first Pink Bonus-eligible runner home in the race, open to horses with at least 75 per cent female ownership. winning her connections an extra $100,000 in prize-money.
Doncaster date on the agenda for Yorkshire after Ingham success
Yorkshire (Snitzel) confirmed himself one of the most exciting performers in Australia with a powerhouse victory in his toughest test to date, Saturday’s $2 million The Ingham (Gr 2, 1600m) at Randwick.
Sent out a well supported $3.90 favourite after his victory in Rosehill’s Festival Stakes (Gr 3, 1500m), the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained five-year-old speared across from gate 13 in the huge Randwick mile field of 20, settling outside leader Rise At Dawn (Almanzor) under a relatively moderate tempo.
Zac Lloyd took Yorkshire to the lead at the 350 metres, and while that made him a target from a long way out, he beat off the stern challenge of last year’s winner Robusto (Churchill) by the 200 metres, was 1.5 lengths in front at the 100 metres, and had ample in reserve to beat Joe Pride’s fast-finishing $9.50 shot Estadio Mestalla (Galileo Gold) by 0.49 lengths.
Robusto held on for third at $26, ahead of Robbie Griffiths’ Enxuto (Lean Mean Machine) at $16. Topweight Gringotts (Per Incanto) managed only 11th as a $4.40 second elect, one spot ahead of $6 chance Sabaj (Manhattan Rain), who had vast ground to make up on the leaders from near last.
Yorkshire handled his grandest assignment with aplomb, taking his record to eight wins from 11 starts.
Co-trainer Charlton was delighted with yet another victory for the progressive and lightly raced gelding, which booked his spot in the autumn’s ATC Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m), and warned the best should be yet to come.
“I think he’s not the finished article now, which is excellent,” Charlton told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He needed to improve again today and he had to do a bit of work from the outside gate. It looked like they got a bit of a breather in the mid sections so credit to Zac.
“He’ll have to keep improving but it [the Doncaster] is the type of race we’ll look towards for sure.”
Charlton said the victory was full of merit given it was Yorkshire’s third run in four weeks. He suffered heart arrhythmia and ran last of 16 when resuming in Newcastle’s The Hunter (1300m) on November 15.
“There were two-week turnarounds, these races, and full credit to the horse. He’s a real tough conveyance,” he said.
“We were probably going to bounce back, but whether we were going to get to a grand final four weeks later, and able to produce a performance like that, was probably up for debate.
“We were behind the eight-ball there in terms of his fitness. And only some horses can do that
“He’s wandering around up the running there. I think there’s more upside, which is obviously the key.
“He’s had a few setbacks along the way and he’s just got the best demeanour to be able to handle those things.
“Heart arrhythmia four weeks ago, and we were on the back foot. We were behind the eight-ball there in terms of his fitness. And only some horses can do that.”
Lloyd - who may have the choice of riding the son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) or his Group 1-winning stablemate Linebacker (Super Seth) in the Doncaster - was deeply impressed with Yorkshire’s Ingham effort, which came despite a little waywardness in the run home.
“He did it last start as well. He just wandered around a bit,” the winning rider said. “It will be interesting to see when he can maybe be in front on the rail and really concentrate to see how he will lengthen.
“He’s a good horse and he is definitely rising and maturing as well.
“He is progressing into such a good horse. Very push button to ride for me. He gets galloping and when he’s in that sort of mood, he is hard to get past.
“I gave him a click as we came into the straight, expecting him to pick up slowly, and he really let down and had a big Royal Randwick straight to look at.”
Yorkshire (AUS)
5yo: (10Sep20 bb g)
Trainer: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton
Owner: R L Roulston, G T Ryan Et Al
Sire: Snitzel
Dam: Chanteline
Dam's Sire: Majesticperfection
Breeder: S F Bloodstock L L C
He added: “The O’Shea-Charlton team has another good horse [Linebacker] who fits that [Doncaster] profile, so I’ll leave it up to them and whatever they want me to ride, I’ll be more than happy to ride.”
Bought from Newgate Farm’s 2022 Inglis Easter draft by Mark Player and Robert Roulston’s PR Funds for $575,000, Yorkshire has now earned $1.67 million in prize-money.
Bred by Newgate associate SF Bloodstock, Yorkshire was clearly a standout at the sales. Two years later, his American dam Chanteline’s (Majesticperfection) only other progeny to be auctioned to date, a filly by Exceed And Excel (Danehill), sold to Hollymount Stud for $125,000. Now named Lady Of The Castle, she’s awaiting her first start for O’Shea and Charlton, and last Tuesday won a Kensington barrier trial.
Chanteline, who won four lower level stakes races in the US over 1100 metres, was bought by SF Bloodstock and Newgate for US$425,000 at the Keeneland November Broodmare Sale of 2018.
Yorkshire is the first of five foals for Chanteline, and the only one to race. The 13-year-old mare now has a yearling by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) and a filly foal by Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) who was born on November 18.
The Ingham (GR 2)
Show
The Ingham (GR 2)
$2,000,000, Randwick, 3yo+, 1600m, Good(4)
-
Yorkshire (AUS) 5 b/br G 53kg
Snitzel (AUS) - Chanteline (USA), by Majesticperfection (USA)
2nd Dam: Listen to Libby (USA), by Indian Charlie (USA)
3rd Dam: You'renotlistening (USA), by Kennedy Road (CAN)
B: S F Bloodstock L L C NSW T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton J: Zac Lloyd
$575,000, William Inglis & Son Pty. Ltd. Easter Yearling Sale 2022
V: Newgate Farm
P: PR Funds
-
Estadio Mestalla (IRE) 6 b G 56kg
Galileo Gold (GB) - Superior Charm (USA), by Elusive Quality (USA)
B: Mrs Lena Farrell T: Joseph Pride J: A Hyeronimus
-
Robusto (AUS) 6 b G 54kg
Churchill (IRE) - She's Clean (AUS), by Redoute's Choice (AUS)
B: Ingham Racing NSW T: Bjorn Baker J: Ashley Morgan
Margins: 0.5 lens, 1.3 lens. Time: 1:34.11 (last 600m 34.74)
Betting: $4.00, $9.00, $26.00
Then followed: Enxuto (AUS), Rise at Dawn (NZ), Amor Victorious (AUS), Steparty (AUS), Melody Again (AUS), Tavi Time (NZ), Arctic Glamour (AUS), Gringotts (NZ), Sabaj (AUS), Duke de Sessa (IRE), Victoria Road (IRE), Matusalem (AUS), You Wahng (AUS), Democracy Manifest (AUS), Darnation (IRE), Territory Express (AUS), Loch Eagle (AUS), last.
1st dam: CHANTELINE, by Majesticperfection. 9 wins to 6f, US$594,972, Keeneland Franklin County S., Gr.3, Saratoga Smart & Fancy S., L, Oaklawn Park Spring Fever S., L, Fair Grounds Richard Scherer Memorial S., L, Keeneland Allowance, 2d Saratoga Caress S., L, Oaklawn Park Carousel S., L, Sunland Park Bold Ego H., L, 3d Prairie Meadows Saylorville S., L, 4th Oaklawn Park American Beauty S., L, Pimlico Skipat S., L, The Very One S., L. Dam of-2020 YORKSHIRE (g by Snitzel). 8 wins from 1300m to 1600m, A$1,669,675, to 2025-26, ATC The Ingham, Gr.2, Festival S., Gr.3, TAB H., Wellington Racing Club Trophy, Exceedance H., Ranvet H., Wyong RC Royal Hotel H., 2d ATC TAB H., 3d ATC Thank You Trainers H.
2022 f. Lady of the Castle, by Exceed and Excel. Unraced.
2024 c. by I Am Invincible.
2025 f. by Extreme Choice.
Warnie leaves it late as he pockets Supernova prize
Not for the first time, Warnie has produced the spectacular on the sporting fields of Victoria.
Named by his original Irish connections after the late cricketing great and favourite son of Melbourne, Warnie (Highland Reel) the five-year-old gelding produced a dazzling finish to land Saturday’s second edition of the $1 million Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham.
With a run timed to the second by Thomas Stockdale, Warnie settled second-last from gate seven of 14 as a strong tempo unfolded, and had no horse behind him on straightening.
He had a mountain of work to do as $2.20 favourite Private Eye (Al Maher) took the lead along the rails inside the 200 metres four lengths in front of him, and still had a length to make up at the 50 metres.
But, free-wheeling down the centre of the track, Warnie landed the prize in the last bound as an easy $11 chance, with Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel) 0.57 lengths away in third at $10, following his second in the inaugural Supernova last year.
In so doing he continued a stellar day for Australia’s reigning premier trainer Ciaron Maher, who had three earlier winners on the card in the shape of Godolphin two-year-old debutant Milsons Point (Blue Point), Shockletz (Shocking) and Jenni Gone Bonkers (Maurice).
Bred by Glenanore Stud in County Cork, Warnie debuted under James McDonald at Royal Ascot in 2023, running ninth in the Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f).
He won his next two in Ireland, the latter a Tipperary Listed, before switching to Australia to run for Maher and syndicator Bennett Racing.
Launching with a Flemington 1200-metre win in October last year, he’s been a model of consistency in Australia, with now three wins and five placings - plus three fourths and three fifths - from 15 starts.
Warnie (IRE)
4yo: (23Mar21 b g)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Owner: Bennett Racing Pty Ltd, D Phillips Et Al
Sire: Highland Reel
Dam: Cumbfree
Dam's Sire: Footstepsinthesand
Breeder: Glenanore Stud
Three runs ago he became a Group winner when taking Flemington’s Damien Oliver Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) from Bennett teammate Zou Sensation (Zoustar), who ran fourth in the Supernova, also at $11.
The start after that he was stretched to 1600 metres for the first time in Australia, tiring slightly late after racing on the pace to run a 1.9 length fifth.
After a long campaign dotted with just two short let-ups since May, and reverting to the 1400 metres of the Supernova - in which he filled Maher’s own slot - Warnie scored his largest career payday and pushed his earnings into seven figures, even if the stable was surprised to see him have to come from the back.
“It was an exciting race,” said stable foreman Jack Turnbull. “If you’d have asked the team if we were going to be second-last in running, I’d have said, ‘No way’.
“But they went solid and Tom just took his time, similar to how [Mark] Zahra rode him [in the Damien Oliver], which is new for this horse because he has been keen and hard going. But back in trip slightly, with a lot of speed, it worked out really well.
“He was good at Cranbourne, but we had to change things up. We were mindful of how deep we are into the prep and coming back to the seven [furlongs], so it’s a credit to the team.
“It’s very rewarding. It’s a huge day for the team.”
“I tried to channel my inner Zahra - nice hands, get him to relax, and jeez he let rip in the end
Stockdale, the 26-year-old also celebrating his largest payday after Warnie’s $450,000 first prize, said he had indeed modelled his ride on Zahra’s at Flemington, where the gelding settled almost as far back in eighth of 11.
“I went back through his replays and just loved how Mark rode him,” Stockdale said. “He was in a nice flowing rhythm, just relaxed conserving energy, and he showed an electric turn of foot off it.
“So I tried to channel my inner Zahra - nice hands, get him to relax, and jeez he let rip in the end.
“When you let rip like that you’re always confident, but when you know the gallopers in front of you, you know they’re not going to lie down easily.
“But gee he’s been trained to the minute. To come back in trip after a tough run over the mile, and to have him so well presented as they did is a great credit to the team.
“It’s the biggest win of my career. I’ve won low level Group races, but they’ve been nowhere near this level of prize-money. So it’s something special.”
Warnie is the fourth and best foal among six for Cumbfree (Footstepsinthesand), who won twice in 12 starts in France, and had her latest foal in 2023.
The gelding is one of only six stakes winners worldwide from 447 runners for Swettenham Stud’s former shuttler Highland Reel (Galileo).






















