Godolphin colt Ingratiating heads back to Flemington looking to improve on his imposing record on the straight course.
Ingratiating runs in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) on Saturday after returning with a stunning win in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last month.
The James Cummings-trained son of Frosted has raced on the Flemington straight course on three occasions, registering two wins and a second.
Ingratiating scored on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) last October before winning over Saturday’s distance in the Listed Talindert Stakes in February.
His only defeat came at the hands of Finance Tycoon, an opponent on Saturday that runs for the first time for Danny O’Brien, in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) on Melbourne Cup Day last year.
Cummings is wary of Finance Tycoon’s presence in Saturday’s race but is expecting his Golden Slipper placegetter to be going close to victory.
“He has every reason to be running a huge race and we are very pleased with him,” Cummings said.
“We were impressed with the return of our colt first-up and he’s the best-credentialled horse here with his placing in the Slipper.
“I can’t imagine him doing anything but running really well and he’s going to enjoy being back up the straight where he’s got such a good record so far.”
Running up the straight on Saturday positions Ingratiating for a potential return to the track during Melbourne Cup week for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Ingratiating is yet to win at 1200m having finished second in the Blue Diamond Stakes and third in the Golden Slipper while also finishing fifth in the Pago Pago Stakes.
While Cummings has not ruled out tackling open sprinters in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 22, the trainer would prefer to keep Ingratiating against his own age.
“We would really like to target the Coolmore with him,” Cummings said.
