The $1 million Inglis Sprint produced a performance to savour at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, as Getta Good Feeling returned from a Classic campaign to capture the rich straight-track feature in emphatic style.
Prepared by Danny O’Brien, the daughter of So You Think had not been seen since contesting the VRC Oaks over 2500 metres in November. Yet, back to 1200 metres down the famous straight, she displayed a devastating turn of foot that belied the stamina test she faced in the spring.
Most Oaks runners are nursed along quietly when they return, often over longer journeys. Getta Good Feeling, however, was asked a sharper question first-up — and answered it with authority.
Settling comfortably before lengthening with purpose inside the final 400 metres, she surged clear to defeat Nashville Jack, with Fundamental Nature closing late for third.
O’Brien, who was inspecting yearlings at Oaklands ahead of the Premier Yearling Sale, admitted he had drawn inspiration from his former mentor, Bart Cummings.
“My first boss was Bart and he used to do it all the time,” O’Brien reflected. “Coming back from the spring, he’d often win with them first-up down the straight. I guess it’s fair to say I had thoughts of him when I saw this race — it fitted in really well for us.”
After the spring, connections opted against stretching her to Sydney for another Oaks tilt, instead allowing her a longer break with the Inglis Sprint firmly in mind.
“We felt she might be at her best around 2000 metres,” O’Brien explained. “The Inglis Sprint set up perfectly for her. From six weeks ago, when we decided to target it, we were aiming to have her ready to produce exactly that sort of performance.”
Bred by Phoenix Broodmare Farm, Getta Good Feeling was secured for $525,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale by Pinecliff Racing’s Jonathan Munz, with bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne signing on his behalf. Saturday’s result marked a significant return on that early faith.
Further down the course, the Ciaron Maher-trained Fundamental Nature earned additional acclaim as the first eligible runner home for the Inglis Pink Bonus, while connections celebrated their own richly deserved reward.
“When we realised it was us that had secured the Pink Bonus, it was unbelievable,” part-owner Alise Johnston said. “We might have run third, but it certainly feels special.”
The result also reshaped the standings in the Trainers’ Challenge series attached to the race program, with O’Brien moving to 20 points, Brad Widdup drawing level, and Maher extending his overall lead.
But the afternoon belonged to one filly. In a race often dominated by sharp, seasoned sprinters, Getta Good Feeling reminded observers that class — and a touch of bold placement — can bridge any distance.
Inglis Sprint Result: Explosive Return Over 1200m
The Inglis Sprint (1200m, Flemington straight)
1st – Getta Good Feeling
2nd – Nashville Jack
3rd – Fundamental Nature
Her success adds another compelling chapter to the Inglis Sprint honour roll and signals a promising autumn ahead.
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