Rustic set to relish Randwick mile return in The Ingham
He has been mixing his distances this campaign, but classy gelding Rustic Steel will return to arguably his favourite trip as he bids to give trainer Kris Lees back-to-back victories in The Ingham.
The seven-year-old has won half of his six starts over a mile and Lees expects him to relish extending to the journey in Saturday’s The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick after a sound fifth behind Briasa in The Hunter (1300m) last month.
That effort came nine days after Rustic Steel took out the Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury and Lees admitted the distance drop took the edge off his charge’s finishing sprint.
“He still ran well, but it was always a risk coming back in trip with a quick turnaround,” Lees said.
“He will head to The Ingham and he’ll run well. It has been the logical target for him this time in.”
Rustic Steel was beaten less than three lengths by stablemate Loch Eagle in the corresponding race last year and is proven over the Randwick mile as the winner of the 2022 Big Dance (1600m).
While The Ingham will be his first time at the races in almost a month, he has been kept up to the mark with a recent barrier trial win on Newcastle’s Beaumont track and will have the services of Josh Parr, who partnered him at Hawkesbury.
Stablemate Gobi Desert finished third in an 800m heat at the same trial session and is set to take her place in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) for the two-year-olds.
An impressive debut winner of the Max Lees Classic (900m) at Newcastle, the Too Darn Hot filly is a half-sister to Lees’ dual Group 1 winner In Her Time and three-time winner Glowing Red, and is proving quicker to mature than both her siblings.
“In Her Time didn’t race this early. Both the family have taken a little bit of time and she is a bit more precocious, that could be the Too Darn Hot side of things,” Lees said.
“She will probably go to the Inglis Nursery and she’s a filly I’ve got a bit of time for.”
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...