Wild Planet wins the Inglis 3YO Guineas

A perfectly judged ride by Tommy Berry gifted the Hawkes Racing-trained Wild Planet victory in the $300,000 Inglis 3YO Guineas (1400m) at Scone on Saturday.

The plan wasn’t for Wild Planet to be the leader but Berry took advantage of the situation early and ensured the race was run to suit.

“Today I have to give Tommy credit, he rode the perfect race,” Michael Hawkes said.

“We discussed it pre-race and thought we’d be about fourth, one out.

"But from the tricky draw on the inside when he jumped so good Tommy wasn’t going to give the lead up and when they backed off in the middle stages, he was always going to be hard to catch.”

Wild Planet was challenged early in the straight, but Berry was still sitting quietly aboard his mount and it wasn’t until the $2.70 favourite Military Zone started to launch from back in the field, that Wild Planet was asked for the maximum effort and he responded.

“He got his own way in front today and that told the tale in the end,” Berry said.

“When they first started to come to him, I felt him click into another gear and we were just coasting to the line.

“There was still a bit more left.”

Wild Planet ($2.90) defeated the Snowden-trained Military Zone by three-quarters of a length with 1-1/4 lengths back to Total Power ($21) in third.

The victory was Wild Planet’s third from 11 starts and took his earnings to more than $380,000 but Hawkes, who trains the gelding in partnership with his father John and brother Michael, believes the best is ahead for the rising four-year-old.

“He’s a fighter, a winner and going the right way,” he said.

“We’ve always had a big opinion of this horse and being by Animal Kingdom he’s just getting better all the time.

“We gelded him early and made a good race horse of him from day one. It’s been a great ride so far and hopefully that can continue on.

“He’s been up for a while so we’ll just see what happens in the weeks ahead. He’s in the Stradbroke so we’ll just see.”

Wild Planet is a $17 chance in the Stradbroke Handicap.

CLINTON PAYNE - RACENET.