The Inglis Sprint: a million-dollar race with Pink Bonus appeal

Despite its relatively short history, the Inglis Sprint has quickly established itself as a premier event in the autumn carnival. The race has become a vital steppingstone for top three-year-olds, with trainers viewing it as an ideal launch pad for major races like the Sunlight Classic and the Yulong Newmarket Handicap. It has also developed into a reliable form guide, helping to identify future sprinting stars. 

The Inglis Sprint made its debut in Melbourne in 2022, adding to the excitement of Australian Guineas Day. Prior to that, Flemington hosted the $500,000 Inglis Dash from 2016. The merger of the Inglis Sprint and Inglis Dash resulted in a high-stakes contest that now attracts a stellar line-up of three-year-olds down the iconic Flemington straight. 

In 2024, the Inglis Sprint was won by Estriella, a talented filly trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Blake Shinn. A daughter of I Am Invincible out of Madrigals, Estriella was purchased for $750,000 at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft. 

Her front-running performance in the Inglis Sprint showcased her immense potential as a top-level sprinter, proving she could handle the pressure of elite competition. 

Estriella’s victory was even more significant as she secured not only the $550,000 first prize, but also the $200,000 Inglis Pink Bonus. This bonus is awarded to the first finisher among horses that are at least 75% owned by female connections. 

Vikki Payne, who owns Estriella, was thrilled with the outcome and praised the initiative for encouraging greater female participation in racing. 

“It’s a great initiative that Inglis has put on for the ladies,” she said. “It’s fantastic for racing. We need more ladies involved, definitely. I’m very excited, it was a wonderful result.” 

This additional incentive has only increased the race’s prestige, providing another compelling reason for owners and trainers to target the Inglis Sprint. 

Estriella’s victory reinforced the Inglis Sprint’s role in producing high-class horses. The previous year’s winner, Benedetta, continued her rise as a genuine Group 1 contender, winning a Group 3 event and finishing a close third in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington. The 2022 winner, Overpass, won The Quokka twice, a lucrative slot race run in Perth at Ascot and Western Australia’s richest race. He also won the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) twice, also run at Ascot.  

Another key feature of the race is its set weights and penalties system, ensuring a level playing field and allowing promising young sprinters to prove themselves against strong opposition. 

This year’s Inglis Sprint will feature a full field of 20 starters, with four horses meeting the criteria for the $200,000 Inglis Pink Bonus – Beer Baron, Hot Digity Boom, Immortal Star and Lavender Glory. The first past the post will take home the lucrative prize, adding another layer of excitement to the event. 

With its substantial prizemoney and strategic position in the season, the Inglis Sprint provides a launching pad for three-year-olds aiming for further success in major autumn races. Given the race’s growing reputation and the achievements of past winners, it has firmly cemented itself as a must-watch feature of the autumn carnival.