Crack A Roadie opened Moonee Valley’s Cox Plate program with a lengthening victory in the $250,000 Inglis Banner (1000m).  He settled back and then stoked up around the turn to finish over the top of Diva Dee to win right on the line.

The first three across the line all earned valuable black-type as this year’s running of the Inglis Banner was the first time the $250,000 event carried Restricted Listed status after being upgraded by the Australian Pattern Committee.

“I’ve made a good living with older horses but I’m never going to find a really good horse that way,” trainer Stephen Theodore said.  “I put the noose around the neck and bought 14 yearlings this year and lucky enough I might turn out to be a not bad judge.”

Crack A Roadie (2c Charge Forward – Road To Damascus) was bred by Arrowfield Pastoral, Planette Thoroughbred & Belford Productions and was purchased by Theodore at the Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.

“I trained his full brother Road Trippin and that certainly was a big influence but the Charge Forwards were averaging about $120,000.  This bloke was $40,000 at Oaklands Junction and he collected $145,000 today.”

Road Trippin finished second behind Snizterland in the $250,000 Inglis Premier earlier this year before running third in the G2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes behind All Too Hard.