Canberra trainer Todd Smart had one sole mission when attending last year’s HTBA Yearling Sale – to buy a horse that could win the A$200,000 Inglis Challenge at Scone 12 months later.
Fast forward to Friday, 16 May and that horse – now named Cashbook (Flying Artie) – did exactly that, scoring a decisive victory in the 2YO feature on Scone Cup Day.
It’s the second time in three years Smart has won the Inglis Challenge, following the success of Love Shuck in 2023.
Smart and Peter Twomey of Wattle Bloodstock purchased Cashbook for A$28,000 at the HTBA Yearling Sale at Riverside, where he was offered by Widden Stud.
Following Friday’s success Cashbook, who was bred by Julia Ritchie’s Bangaloe Stud Syndicate, has already won almost four times his purchase price for his thrilled connections.
Smart wanted to target the Inglis Challenge due to its incredible prizemoney.
“It’s unreal, these owners are celebrating like they’ve won the Melbourne Cup, it means so much to them and I love the Inglis Race Series because of the opportunities like today’s that it gives a trainer like me and owners like these guys,’’ Smart said.
“This Scone race is awesome, it’s really great prizemoney and it’s a race I’ll absolutely keep targeting and hopefully win many more of.
“He’s a nice horse Cashbook, Peter Twomey and I liked him at the sale and I was pretty confident coming here today that he’d run a nice race and to get the win is super.
“Thanks to Inglis, I love buying horses off you guys and I love winning your Race Series races even more!’’