She's Clean could break five-year Group 1 drought for John Ingham

JOHN Ingham hopes his family's famous all cerise colours can end their five-year Group 1 drought with She's Clean in tomorrow's Tatt's Tiara.

JOHN Ingham admits winning Group 1 races is a lot harder these days, but hopes his family's famous all cerise colours can end their five-year Group 1 drought with She's Clean in tomorrow's Tatt's Tiara at Eagle Farm.

The last time the all cerise of Woodlands Stud won a Group 1 was Forensics' Queen of the Turf triumph in April 2008.

Soon after, the entire Woodlands Stud bloodstock arm shifted to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley in a rumoured $500 million deal.

The family still take great satisfaction in the success of their old stable stars.

"Watching Commands and Lonhro, then Pierro, I am extremely proud to see the success that has carried on. It's very gratifying," said Ingham, whose father Bob and late uncle Jack built the empire.

"We still watch them with fondness."

The Ingham family re-entered the buying fray soon after, entrusting a then-emerging Chris Waller as their trainer, but they are yet to scale the heights of Group 1 success.

"It's hard to describe, but it's a totally different world," said Ingham, who now races about 45 horses with father Bob, sisters Lyn and Debbie and brother Robby.

"Previously we were counting how many Group 1s we got; now we are desperately waiting for our first one. Not to make that sound bad, but that's how it was. We became accustomed to winning big races."

Ingham's mother Norma passed away in 2010, but his father still takes an active interest in the racing team.

"Oh God, yeah. He watches them all the time and he speaks to Chris on a weekly basis," his son revealed.

Waller, who is likely to break Tommy Smith and Gai Waterhouse's Sydney training record this week, wasn't the same colossal force in 2008 as he is today.

Ingham said: "Dad picked him out and felt he had a good pedigree, but he has just gone above and beyond expectations much quicker than one would have thought.

"But when your trainer has already won eight Group 1 races for the season, it's a bit hard to be confident he's going to turn up and get a ninth.
"I just hope he hasn't rolled all his marbles."

She's Clean has risen through the grades to earn her shot at tomorrow's Tiara, and while she will never be an Octagonal or Lonhro, the Inghams are quickly becoming very fond of her.

"In an Octagonal kind of way, she just wants to win," Ingham said.