Expensive colt Trunk set to prove his worth in the Inglis Millennium

They needed $1.3 million to secure Trunk as a yearling at the Inglis Easter Sale last year, but racing and breeding giant Yulong can recoup most of that in less than 65 seconds on Saturday.

Trunk (green and white silks) battles on behind Stay Focused in the Rex Gorell Geelong Diamond at Geelong Racecourse on January 6. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos)

Trunk, the most expensive yearling in the $2m Inglis Millennium field, can take less than 65 seconds to recoup most of his exorbitant purchase price at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Racing and breeding giant Yulong needed $1.3m to secure Trunk as a yearling at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale last year.

But Trunk could earn $1.15m prizemoney if he can defeat a quality field of two-year-olds in the Inglis Millennium.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Trunk showed enough on debut when second behind Stay Focused at Geelong to suggest he will be very competitive at Randwick.

TAB Fixed Odds price assessors agree, with Trunk at $8 in latest betting behind only his stablemate Fully Lit ($3.50 favourite), Rue De Royale ($5) and Odinson ($5.50).

Trunk, a son of Arrowfield’s super sire Snitzel out of Acquired, herself the dam of stakeswinners Splintex and Invictus Salute, has drawn ideally in barrier five and Yulong supremo Vin Cox is hopeful his colt will be in the finish.

A professional performance by Stay Focused, he's now in the Blue Diamond 💪

Daniel Stackhouse makes it two from two to start the day at Geelong 👌 @pstokesracingpic.twitter.com/RuhPz92NpW

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) January 6, 2024

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“We paid a lot of money for Trunk last year, he is a well-bred colt,’’ Cox said.

“His second on debut was a good run, he’s a nice horse and the stable seems quite happy with him.’’

Yulong is building a strong team of juveniles this season with two of Trunk’s stablemates, unbeaten Golden Gift winner Shangri La Express and the talented Straight Charge also being aimed at the Golden Slipper next month.

“We have a ‘leg’ in Shangri La Express and he looks a very exciting colt,’’ Cox said.

“He won a trial nicely earlier in the week and is close to going back to the races.’’

Straight Charge, who ran second in the Breeders Plate behind Espionage before winning easily at Randwick in December, is due to barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Monday.

“The last word I had from Gai and Adrian was that it is all systems go with the colt,’’ Cox enthused.

“He should be back at the trials in the next week or so. The Breeders Plate form is looking stronger and stronger now.’’

Straight Charge the @GaiWaterhouse1 and Adrian Bott 2yo colt takes out the opener at Randwick! pic.twitter.com/r3NwyDNoHl

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 23, 2023

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Cox is also hoping promising filly Dancer For Money can maintain her unbeaten record in the $300,000 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.

Out of the Savabeel mare Nutbush, Dancer For Money is named after the Tina Turner hit song Private Dancer. She scored impressively on debut at Geelong and seems way over the odds at $41 for the Prelude.

Meanwhile, Cox confirmed three-time Group 1 winner Alcohol Free has been retired and recently returned to England to be mated with superhorse Frankel.

“We will be breeding her to northern hemisphere time and at this stage she will stay in England,’’ Cox said.

“It’s a logical step as her racing career was up there and we have significant racing and breeding interests in the northern hemisphere.

“Frankel is a hugely successful stallion in this part of the world but his regard in the northern hemisphere is probably superior.’’

Alcohol Free, who Yulong purchased for $10 million, was unplaced in her five Australian starts including The Everest but she did race competitively at a high level here including her fourth in The Invitation won by Espiona and fifth in the Empire Rose Stakes behind Pride Of Jenni and Atishu.