Profiteer wins Inglis Millennium, odds slashed for Golden Slipper

Trainer Mick Price was moved to rate Profiteer higher than his former top sprinter Extreme Choice at the same stage of their careers after a stunning display of sustained speed at Royal Randwick.

Profiteer ran his rivals ragged as he raced right away from his chasing rivals in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m).

There was no fluke about the brilliant colt’s winning margin of more than five lengths and he is now challenging Enthaar for favouritism for the Group $3.5 million Golden Slipper next month.

Profiteer gets the win in a spectacular edition of the 2021 #InglisMillennium! Gun ride from @hugebowman ?? pic.twitter.com/sE0HoJVoqa

Price, who trains in partnership with Mick Kent Jnr, conceded he has to make a tough decision – does he take Profiteer back to Melbourne for the Blue Diamond in two weeks or just concentrate on the Golden Slipper?

“It’s not easy going back and forth (from Melbourne) so if I have a query, I will tell the owners we will set him for the Golden Slipper,’’ Price said.

“I think it would be very difficult with what we’ve done with him to take him back to Melbourne for the Blue Diamond that is two weeks. It would then be four weeks to the Slipper.

“Probably, I have to have a pick between the two races I would think. If I had to have a pick, it would be the Golden Slipper.

“These two-year-olds don’t hold up forever. You can’t ask them to go and go and you don’t know how much petrol is in the tank after today but you saw the horse and how brilliant he was.”

Profiteer produced a stunning win in the Inglis Millennium. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Steve Travaglia of Roll The Dice Syndications, who purchased Profiteer for $165,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale last year, said he will leave the colt’s race programming to Price.

“I don’t get involved in those decisions, that’s what we employ a trainer for,’’ Travaglia said. “Mick will make the right call.’’

With his blinding speed and acceleration, Profiteer ($1.75 favourite) turned the Inglis Millennium into a procession as he crossed the line 5¼ lengths clear of Baranof ($101) with Pegasi ($31) a nose away third.

TAB Fixed Odds price assessors slashed unbeaten Profiteer’s odds from $15 to $5 second favouritism for the Golden Slipper behind only Enthaar at $4.50.

Price admitted he was surprised how fast Profiteer was going before the home turn.

“I’ve watched a lot of good two-year-olds and I must say I was a bit concerned when the sectionals came up and he was breaking 11s,’’ the trainer said.

Profiteer has surged into second favouritism for the Golden Slipper. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“I did think to myself in all those races where they break 11, their query is whether they finish off. But I thought he was brilliant on the day.

“I won a Blue Diamond with Extreme Choice but I would think Profiteer is probably the better horse at the same stage of their careers.

“Profiteer has continued to improve – he just has to train on now.’’

Profiteer gave Hall of Fame jockey Hugh Bowman another feature juvenile win, complementing his success on Shaquero in the Magic Millions last month.

Bowman, who also won the coveted Sydney juvenile triple crown last year on Farnan (Golden Slipper) and King’s Legacy (ATC Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes), maintains Profiteer can improve off his Inglis Millennium effort.

“He took off on me a bit mid-race,’’ Bowman said. “I was very mindful of not trying to restrain him, you have to work with these horses.

Hugh Bowman is confident Profiteer will run a strong 1200m. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“I would have loved to have held him a bit steadier and I stayed still until inside the 300m but he still gave a good kick which most horses wouldn’t.

“He’d had enough in the last 100m but I’m confident he will run a strong 1200m. He’s a sensible horse and just has to harness his energy. He’s not a ‘charger’ so I’m confident he can do that.’’

Bowman almost sensed the next media question and was at his diplomatic best after being asked to compare Profiteer and Shaquero.

“Profiteer is more precocious, he is definitely a faster horse,’’ Bowman said.

“To say he is a better horse than Shaquero I don’t think is a fair comparison as they are different types of horses. Shaquero could develop into a Golden Rose (1400m) type of horse but Profiteer is a sprinter, 1000m to 1200m is his maximum.’’

Bowman said there was plenty of time before he decided on his mount for the Golden Slipper.

“There is no need to make a call now, there’s a long way to go – not unless the media start ringing to look at who is riding what,’’ Bowman said.

Originally published asProfiteer shifts into overdrive in race for Golden Slipper

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