IBLE’S $10,000 BUY NOW TRULY A BARGAIN

JOE Ible hoped he had secured a bargain with his only purchase at the 2024 Inglis Ready2Race sale.

Now he knows he has.

The Kembla Grange trainer burst back into the city winning list for the first time in just over two years when his talented three-year-old Barrengarry (Zac Lloyd) took the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens yesterday at only his fourth start.

Ible paid $10,000 for the now gelded son of Godolphin’s 2020 European Horse Of The Year Ghaiyyath (four Group 1s) as an early unraced two-year-old because he was “too cheap”.

Ghaiyyyath (which in Arabic means helper/supporter) was shuttled to Australia for a few seasons for stud duty in Victoria, and his first southern hemisphere yearlings were offered for sale in 2024. 

“Barrengarry moved nicely in breeze-ups leading up to the sale, and looked a likely type,” Ible said.

“He was too cheap as not many people here knew Ghaiyyath, and his stock such as last year’s Victoria Derby winner Observer and Different Gravy (also a brilliant winner at the same Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington) obviously had not raced.

JOE IBLE WITH PARENTS SHARON & DARRELL & BROTHER JACK

“I felt that going on my horse’s breeding, he would continue to improve and get over ground.

“Ghayyaith didn’t come back to Australia last season, but I’ll be surprised if he isn’t back here later this year.”

Barrengarry (named after the small village near the Southern Highlands of NSW where his parents Darrell and Sharon hail from) didn’t race as a two-year-old.

“I didn’t push him, and he was gelded after his first start (fourth of 10 as a $101 bolter in a 1200m Maiden Handicap at Nowra on November 2 last year; the day after Observer won his Derby at Flemington),” Ible said.

“He definitely needed to be gelded.”

Barrengarry hasn’t looked back since the operation. He was a close first-up third at home in a 1400m Provincial Maiden Plate on February 17 before breaking through in a similar race over 1600m at Newcastle’s Group 3 Stakes meeting on March 6.

It was a real family affair at Rosehill cheering home the three-year-old for a successful city debut.

“Mum and Dad were there along with my brother Jack, who works with me,” Ible said.

“Dad has a share in Barrengarry, and it was a great thrill for everyone involved in the horse to see him perform as he did.”

Barrengarry, well backed from double figures to start at $7.50, never got on the track from his barrier (10 in a feld of 14), and looked in trouble on straightening.

“He became unbalanced turning the corner and got on his wrong leg,” Ible explained.

“But once he straightened and got on the right leg again, he picked up nicely.

“It was a really good win, and we’re excited to see how far he can progress.”

Ible has the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June in mind for Barrengarry, provided he continues to please him.

“At this stage, we will most likely look at the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 18 as his target for a Brisbane campaign.”

Barrengarry has been ridden by Zac Lloyd in all three starts this campaign, and the young jockey is impressed with him.

Lloyd also was aboard when Cuban Granchico (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1550m at the Kensington track in February 2024) was Ible’s previous city winner.

Given the way Barrengarry is shaping, it’s a fair bet Ible won’t have to wait that long for his next winner in town!

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 22, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS