Former Ingham horse Robusto surges to victory in Group 2 race named in family’s honour

Robusto, who was formerly owned by the Ingham family, won the race named in their honour at Randwick to cap an amazing day for Bjorn Baker and Darby Racing.

Robusto and Tim Clark charge home to win the Group 2 The Ingham at Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

A five-year-old gelding formerly owned by the Ingham family won the race named in their honour at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Robusto, purchased for $160,000 at an online Inglis Digital Sale in September, earned $1.15m prizemoney when he came with a late surge to win the Group 2 $2m The Ingham (1600m).

The win capped an extraordinary day for trainer Bjorn Baker and syndicator Scott Darby of Darby Racing as they also combined to win the $500,000 Inglis Nursery with Within The Law.

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Baker was in Melbourne to compete in a fitness event earlier in the day but he was in celebratory mode after Robusto’s win.

“I was cheering so hard I dropped my glass of beer,” Baker said.

“What a day – I wish I was there now. Robusto is another astute purchase by Scott Darby. He gets it right so often.

“Robusto came to us in great condition and our plans were just to try and take him through his grades.

“But I thought the horse ran really well in the Festival Stakes (second to Private Eye) and to watch him win The Ingham is fantastic.

“Our stable has had some good days but to win The Ingham after Within The Law won the Inglis Nursery is right up there.”

But in his moment of triumph, Baker paused to pay tribute to trainer Sam Kavanagh who passed away on Saturday morning after a long battle with cancer.

“Sam was a great friend and he was very helpful to me,” Baker said.

“He was a great horseman and he made me a better trainer.

“It’s so tragic what has happened. He was only 38 and he had a beautiful young family. My heart goes out to them.”

It's Robusto with a robust win in the G2 Ingham for @BBakerRacing and @clarkyhk! 🙌@Darby_Racing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/jdFPGS302N

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024

• Darby’s Inglis quinella all Within The Law

Robusto ($26) burst through near the inside to edge out the ever-reliable Steparty ($15) with the fast-finishing Encap ($26) three-quarters of a length away third.

Topweight Private Eye ($6) ran gamely for fourth while favourite Gringotts ($4.40) seemed to be travelling like a winner coming up the rise before fading to finish only 13th.

Nash Rawiller (Private Eye) and Tommy Berry (Gringotts) understandably had differing assessments of their Ingham rides.

“I was very proud of Private Eye’s effort,” Rawiller said.

“He did all the donkey work there in behind them and went down trying his best.”

Gringotts, winner of the Big Dance and The Gong at his previous two starts, was not at his best for The Ingham, according to Berry.

“He wasn’t 100 per cent today,” Berry said.

“He travelled really well but as soon as he came off the bit, I knew there was something not right about him.

“We will see how he pulls up but I’d be surprised if something doesn’t come out of it.”

Darby, one of Sydney’s leading syndicators, has raced such outstanding Group 1 winners like Golden Slipper heroine She Will Reign (2017), Yankee Rose and Ozzmosis, but his dual big-race successes with Robusto and Within The Law rates right up there as a career highlight.

"He's done an amazing job this time in"

Robusto won the $2Million G2 Ingham at Randwick - hear from Luke Hilton and @clarkyhk !@BBakerRacing | @Darby_Racing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/hQxDMiBYmd

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024

• Kadavar continues hot form in Christmas Cup

“I saw Robusto on the Inglis digital platform and thought he was a horse in good form so we looked at buying him,” Darby said.

“We had the horse vetted, he is sound, and we were able to get him for $160,000.

“The hope was that Bjorn could find a bit extra in the horse but we never bought him thinking he could win The Ingham.

“We had the idea he might win another couple of Saturday races but this has been unbelievable day.”

Darby Racing nearly had a hat-trick of wins with Bunker Hut beaten narrowly earlier on the program.

Top jockey Tim Clark said Robusto finally drew a good barrier and it proved the difference.

“Robusto’s been racing really well without a great deal of luck but today he had the right barrier and made every use of it. He got the right run and executed really well,” Clark said.

“He jumped great, sort of probably put him a bit closer than maybe expected, but he was happy being there so I wasn’t going to take that away from him.

“Obviously, we were following the right horses, it was just a matter of being patient on him and I didn’t want to expose him too soon.

“But the leader, I’mintowin, and Gringotts just weren’t quite taking me far enough, so when the gap came, he dashed through really well and pinned his ears back late.”

Originally published as Former Ingham horse Robusto surges to victory in Group 2 race named in family’s honour