Where’s The Circus is aiming for yet another substantial Inglis prize in Saturday’s Inglis Millennium, and those connected to the inexpensive purchase aren’t alone in hoping for further success.
The two-year-old trained by Paul Murray has a sibling entering the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale less than a day following the $2 million event limited to Inglis graduates at Randwick.
The colt from Widden Stud, prepared for the sale as Lot 190, is certain to exceed the $1250 price tag that Murray secured for Where’s The Circus through Inglis Digital back in September 2024, yet Murray plans to examine the Trapeze Artist offspring regardless.
“We knew he was in the sale and the owners have said, ‘we’ve got to go and have a look at him’, so we’ll be doing that,” Murray said.
Murray showing interest in the 10th foal from Fastnet Rock mare Misplaced wouldn’t shock anyone, considering his history with this lineage.
Together with partner Michelle Ritchie, Murray prepared the initial two foals from Misplaced, Snippetson fillies Where’s Snippy and Can’t Find Snippy, acquired for $600 and $14,000 apiece.
Where’s Snippy secured four victories and $61,000 in earnings, whereas Can’t Find Snippy notched multiple triumphs and placed third in the 2016 version of the upcoming race for Where’s The Circus this weekend.
“Where’s Snippy, she was only a cheap horse and we had a lot of fun with her so we bought the sister and then when she (Where’s The Circus) popped up we thought we’d have a crack at her as well,” Murray said.
“The family’s been good to us.”
Proving most lucrative for the Murrays so far, Where’s The Circus has earned $231,000 via her surprise victory in the Inglis Nursery, and Murray finds excitement in her untapped potential.
“We don’t put much pressure on the babies, we just let them tell us what is going on,” Murray said.
“She trialled against the older horses and went well, so we thought we might give her a go at the Inglis (Nursery) and just see how good she is.
“But to this day, we still haven’t really opened her right up. She’s a bit untapped, we don’t know how much further or how good she really is, but we’ll test that a bit on Saturday.”
Murray recognizes the 1100m Millennium as significantly tougher than the Nursery, featuring contenders like Golden Gift placer Plagiarism, Blue Diamond Preview victor Alibaba, and Artorius half-sister Jacaranda at the top of markets, emphasizing the value of a favorable draw.
Having dominated from barrier four in the 1000m Nursery, Where’s The Circus pulled gate two, or the inside post should second emergency Profitabelle scratch.
“We were hoping for a nice barrier and we got it,” Murray said.
“It was the same as the first start, so she’s really getting the right barriers in these big races, which is a very handy.”
Jean Van Overmeire piloted Where’s The Circus to Nursery success, but Jay Ford takes over for this weekend’s ride.
The Millennium serves as a key highlight on the Randwick card preceding the Classic Sale, with Where’s The Circus joined by others whose relatives appear in the yearling catalog.
During the sale’s closing day on Tuesday, Yarraman Park presents a Dundeel filly from Charge Forward mare Advance Party, full sister to Chris Waller trainee Fireball, a Snitzel colt who triumphed in his sole outing at Rosehill last November.
Fans can explore the top Australian betting sites for strong options on the Inglis Millennium.
The post Circus rolls on a day ahead of brother’s sale first appeared on Just Horse Racing.