Scone Inglis Guineas And $2.4 Million Payday The Major Autumn Goal For Twilight Royale

The connections of Twilight Royale will take home an incredible $2.4 million bonus if the classy filly wins the Inglis 3YO Guineas (1600m) and trainer Bjorn Baker is doing everything possible to have the three-year-old ready for the race at Scone next year.

Bjorn Baker is confident that Twilight Royale can win the Inglis 3YO Guineas if she can return to the form that saw her beat Cox Plate winner Shamus Award in the Sires Produce Stakes earlier this year.

Bjorn Baker is confident that Twilight Royale can win the Inglis 3YO Guineas if she can return to the form that saw her beat Cox Plate winner Shamus Award in the Sires Produce Stakes earlier this year. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Twilight Royale made her racing debut with a narrow victory over Fuerza and Sweet Kiss in the Inglis Nursery Stakes (1000m) at Warwick Farm in December last year and her win over Shamus Award in the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 9 means that she is eligible for the lucrative Inglis Triple Crown Bonus on Saturday May 17 next year.

The daughter of Testa Rossa failed to fire during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, finishing fourth behind Thump in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on August 24 and tenth in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick a fortnight later, and was sent to the spelling paddock prematurely.

Baker told Racing Ahead that Twilight Royale will enter proper trackwork next month and is hopeful that he can return the three-year-old to her best form so that she has the opportunity to give him, as well as other connections, a payday that he would never have expected when he purchased the filly for just $45,000 at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

“She is in pre-training at Scone at the moment and she will probably go out for a quick break after that and then come into the stable in January,” Baker said.

“Everything is aimed towards Scone.

“I haven’t had a good look at the calendar but I think that the Gosford and Hawkesbury Guineas are the logical lead-ins.

“Hopefully she will get there and if she gets there win, lose or draw we are going to have a lot of fun.

“It is a huge amount of money and hopefully she is in good form.

“I don’t think she showed her best in the spring and she never did well.

“She did come fourth in a Group 2, all be it, and then she disappointed at Randwick.

“The one positive is that her autumn form has worked out well, she just beat Shamus Award, and if we can get her back to tip-top shape I think that she will be a definite chance.”

Baker has the opportunity to record his second straight win in the Inglis Nursery on Saturday after included Baio, Dream Habit, Catchtherainbow and Silent Rush in the nominations for the $250,000 race.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.