Ingham triumph puts Yorkshire in 2026 Doncaster Mile mix

Tom Charlton may have been only five years old when John O’Shea secured the 2000 Villiers Stakes, but on Saturday the duo jointly celebrated Yorkshire’s commanding victory in the modern equivalent, The Ingham (1600m), at Randwick.

The triumph delivered O’Shea a fourth win in the prestigious race and marked Charlton’s first as co-trainer, though he was part of the team when O’Shea last took the event with Kirwan’s Lane in 2022.

“I remember we had one-two a few years ago with Kirwan’s Lane and Lion’s Roar so very special,” Charlton said.

Yorkshire ($3.90 fav) enhanced his reputation as one of Australia’s most progressive middle-distance performers, posting his eighth victory from just 11 starts. He quickened stylishly at the top of the straight and drew clear to beat Estadio Mestalla ($9.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Robusto ($26) holding third.

The result was all the more remarkable given Yorkshire’s troubled beginning to the campaign, when he finished last in The Hunter (1300m) and was found to have heart arrhythmia.

The stable executed a meticulous recovery plan, which saw the gelding return to form with victory in the Festival Stakes (1500m) before matching Monton’s rare 2011 feat of completing the Festival–Ingham double.

“We were in a spot of bother after his first-up run and full credit to everyone and the processes that took place,” Charlton said.

“We were confident we were going to bounce back, but whether we were going to get to a grand final four weeks later able to produce a performance like that was up for debate.

“His record sums him up as a horse. Up the running there, he was having a look around. I think he’s not the finished article yet, which is exciting.”

The Ingham victory secured Yorkshire a ballot-free berth in the Doncaster Mile (1600m), a challenge Charlton believes is well worth pursuing.

“He will have to keep improving but it’s the type of race we will look towards, for sure,” he said.

Zac Lloyd continued a memorable afternoon by backing up with victory aboard Weeping Woman in the Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m).

Lloyd said Yorkshire had improvement still to come but deferred to the stable regarding future rides, noting their other star, Linebacker, also fits an elite-profile path.

“The O’Shea-Charlton team has another good horse (Linebacker) who fits that profile, so I’ll leave it up to them and whatever they want me to ride, I’ll be more than happy to ride,” he said.

Gringotts, sent out a $4.40 second favourite, could only manage eleventh, though Nash Rawiller believed the firm track contributed.

O’Shea previously won the race with Grey And Gold in 2000 and On A High in 2003.

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