The $300,000 Group II ATC Missile Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday proved the perfect first up assignment for progressive I Am Invincible mare I Am Me, who scored a resounding win.
The Dynamic Syndications colour bearer has been a slow burn type of horse for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team, but made good progress in her last preparation rising through the grades to win a Listed race in Sydney, before finishing her season with a seventh in the Group I MRC Oakleigh Plate when beaten just two lengths.
She looked brilliant in two recent trial wins and was sent out favourite with Tim Clark to ride from barrier one.
I Am Me jumped fast to lead and controlled the race throughout before skipping clear to win by a length and three-quarters over Dragonstone, whose stablemate Big Parade tragically broke down half -way down the straight hampering a number of runners and sadly failed to finish. His rider Josh Parr was unharmed.
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“She was great but it not a great feeling coming back to that (Big Parade),” said Clark.
“She stepped well enough and Big Parade was never going to be able to burst away to lead me comfortably. I was just able to do enough (to hold the lead) without firing her up and once we got on the circle she came back and got control. A mare with her talent and that weight once she got control, she was always going to be hard to beat. She has kicked off her preparation in great style.”
A $210,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Segenhoe draft for Dynamic Syndications / Dean Watt Bloodstock, I Am Me has the overall record of eight wins and two placings from 14 starts with prizemoney in excess of $630,000.
She was bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and is the first winner from Mefnooda, a metro winning half-sister by Medaglia D’Oro (USA) to Group III winning filly One Last Dance and daughter of Group IIII winner One World.
Mefnooda was bought by Cambridge Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $450,000 and was covered by Too Darn Hot (GB) last spring after missing the year before.
I Am Me is the first stakes-winner of the new season for Yarraman Park’s reigning champion sire I Am Invincible, who is fully booked at a fee of $302,500.
