Setsuna wins the Inglis Banner

Race experience proved to be the winning formula for Sestuna (Choisir x Longoria), as the filly claimed the Inglis Banner on Cox Plate Day.

Following a valiant effort in the Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick, she improved to win at Moonee Valley.

Co-trainer Adrian Bott was full of praise for the filly, overcoming a difficult run in transit.

“A tough effort again, being able to cover the ground and still be strong through the line”, Bott said.

“We had to go to plan B after she missed the start and I guess that’s where we were able to see the benefit of her having some race experience.”

The filly’s co-trainer said he’d always held her in high regard.

“She’s always proven to be one of the most precocious types for us”, he said.

She is now likely to head to the Flemington Carnival, where he thinks she’ll improve again.

“I think she’ll go on improving, and I’ve got another nice race for her on cup day, so hopefully we’ll see a bit more to her again”, Bott said.

Syndicator and manager Scott Darby thought she couldn’t win in the run.

“Half way through the race, four-wide, off the bit, it all looked over”, Darby said.

“Tough, tough win.”

The Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and the Darby Racing colours seem almost synonymous with success, with Setsuna being the latest in a line including Group 1 winners She Will Reign and Yankee Rose.

“What a sale. It’s just phenomenal. It’s only going up, too. Just brilliant”, Darby said.

“The moment we bought her we tagged her as a Gimcrack filly. I was always asking Adrian, ‘How’s the Gimcrack filly’ over and over.”

Breeder and part owner Rob Caruso had a tough time breeding Setsuna.

“She was really 3-4 years in the making. The mare slipped the first year, and had a still birth the next year. Then Setsuna followed,” Caruso said.

“As a small breeder, it can be really tough, but wins like this make it all worth it”

Caruso believed she’d always be an early 2YO, out of the same mould as her half sister Miss Solis.

“A lot of credit goes to Peta Tilden at Manx park, they reared her and prepped her. They emphasised she was a lot like her half sister”.

Manx Park are offering a So You Think half-brother to Setsuna at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Sestuna defeated the Ellerton Zahra trained Bionics, with the Lindsay Park trained Grand Challenge in third.

The Inglis Banner is the first race in the $6million race series for Inglis graduates sold at the 2017 sales.