3 minute read
Former Singapore superstar Inferno won his first race in Australia at only his second start on Saturday, and a Group 2 race for good measure!
Now known as The Inferno for the same Barree Stable of Glenn Whittenbury, the Holy Roman Emperor five-year-old ran was rather well supported at 5-1 in the A$300,000 Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
After settling midfield for Damian Lane, he reproduced that trademark turn of foot that propelled him to eight wins (including five at Group level) from nine starts at Kranji, to defeat rather easily 6-4 favourite Portland Sky (Luke Currie) by one length, with the fast-closing September Run (Craig Williams) another nose away in third.
The 2020 Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) winner ran sixth at his Australian debut in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 14, but Cliff Brown, who prepared him in Singapore and now at Mornington, said he "mucked up" on that first effort.
"I mucked up on that first run. I had to change things a little, we just hadn't done enough work with him," said the former Kranji-based handler to Racing.com.
"He does everything so easily. A normal horse it would have been but for him it is never enough.
"I think he's the best horse I have trained. He can quicken better than anything.
"I think he could be an Everest horse. I think after today I wanted to wait and see.
"The beauty of him is he likes firm, he likes soft. I think he could be that sort of smokie for that race."
Seven of the 12 slots are still up for grabs for the A$15 million The Everest on October 16, for which The Inferno is rated a $34 chance in ante-post markets.
The Inferno's win on Saturday was Brown's second win since returning to Australia to train following Veterok's win at Pakenham last week (August 27).
Meanwhile, next door in Sydney at Royal Randwick, another former Kranji leading light, Kranji Mile winner Aramaayo (has reverted to his original Australian name, the subtly different Aramayo) ran second to top Australian galloper and early Cox Plate (October 23) favourite Zaaki in the A$200,000 Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m), for overseas results that certainly put a shine on our Singapore formline.
