Ballarat trainer Patrick Kearney targets biggest win with Prince Marionette in Inglis Millennium

Victorian trainer Patrick Kearney will be out to cause an upset in the $2m Inglis Millennium with his first Sydney runner.

Trainer Patrick Kearney’s first ever Sydney runner could deliver him his biggest ever win when bargain buy Prince Marionette chases a hefty payday in the $2m Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Royal Randwick.

Kearney paid just $28,000 to secure Prince Marionette at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale but would pocket close to 40 times that if the son of Royal Meeting snare the $1.55m top prize in the Millennium.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

The up-and-coming Ballarat conditioner has spent the past week in Sydney preparing for the challenge where Prince Marionette will go toe-to-toe with a string of unbeaten juveniles and the impressive $600,000 filly Price Tag.

“I think you have to go in with the mindset to think you can beat them,” Kearney said.

“We haven’t come up here for the picnic.

“We came up last week and are staying with Peter Snowden.

“I knew it was going to be a hot couple of weeks so I wanted him to acclimatise and get used to the humidity of Sydney.”

• ‘At the peak of his powers’: Baker cooks up a sensational summer

Kearney’s biggest win to date came via Yellowbrick Road in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes at Morphettville last year but victory would undoubtedly

Prince Marionette had to do it the hard way on debut when he was caught three-wide the trip before finishing runner up to Bliss Bomb in an 1100m event at Seymour.

Bliss Bomb detonates on her rivals, going two better than what she did on debut in South Australia 💣@KennewellRacing@lil_spaino96pic.twitter.com/bmXFiFvA3K

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 16, 2025

“He was caught deep on debut and there has been good form come out of the race,” Kearney said.

“I think we’ve pulled the right string coming up here.

“Two million-dollar races don’t come round that often and when they do, and you’ve got a horse up and going, you would be silly not to try.”

Prince Marionette has been $51 into $34 for the Inglis Millennium with Rhys McLeod set to ride from barrier four.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Price Tag has been backed from $4 into $3.40 favouritism with Rivellino ($4.80) and Within The Law ($6.50).

Originally published as Ballarat trainer Patrick Kearney targets biggest win with Prince Marionette in Inglis Millennium