I Am Superman Books His Ticket for the Doncaster Mile

Mark Smith - Saturday March 13

After failing in the race last year on a heavy track, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained I Am Superman showed his appreciation of a firm surface in Saturday’s $200,000 Group II Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

Off to the Doncaster Mile (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the 5yo son of Footstepsinthesand (GB) finished determinedly to defeat Think It Over (So You Think) by three-quarter of a length with Rock (Pierro) a nose back in third

I Am Superman is now exempt from ballot into the Doncaster Mile , and co-trainer Paul Snowden said that is the target.

"He’s one of these Europeans that actually like fast going,” Snowden said.

“Once he gets on that (Soft) 6 or 7 range his wheels start to spin, but full credit to Kerrin he hung tough. competed early and got into that good spot.

“We thought they would run along a little bit early through the nature of the day, That gets him into the Doncaster now so we’re very, very happy.

“We tried last year and fell a little bit short (after a 10th in the Doncaster Prelude). But on top of the ground, he’s a dynamite horse especially when he is ridden a little bit positive early and gets into that nice rhythm and he can sustain it. Up to a mile and light weight is certainly right up his alley.”

I Am Superman a good-looking son of former shuttler Footstepsinthesand (image Steve Hart)

The winner of the Group II Shannon Stakes last spring, over the same track and distance of the Ajax Stakes, I Am Superman (IRE) arrived in Australia with his then trainer and part-owner Michael O’Callaghan for the inaugural $7,500,000 Golden Eagle.

 He came off a third in a Group III race at Leopardstown, following a meritorious sixth in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at The Curragh won by Phoenix Of Spain from Too Darn Hot.

A €20,000 Goffs weanling, I Am Superman was purchased by Michael O'Callaghan for €49,000 out of the Danesrath Stud draft at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

He is the second winner from as many to race out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Fastnet Lady a daughter of the Group III-placed Montjeu mare Mooretown Lady.

O’Callaghan trains Fastnet Lady’s other winner Fastnet Crown. The son of Hallowed crown closed out his season last year with a one and a quarter length win in a 1mile maiden on the all-weather at Dundalk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stks Gr2 1500m

Rosehill Track: Good(3) Time: 1:27.91
1
I Am Superman
- 5h Footstepsinthesand (GB) x Fastnet Lady (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56.5
2
0.8
Think It Over
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Personal Service (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: K J Parker Rdr: G Boss 58
So You Think
3
0.9
Rock
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Subtitle (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
Pierro
4
1.1
Buffalo River
- 5g Noble Mission (GB) x Fashion Insider (USA) (Indian Charlie (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
5
2.1
Looks Like Elvis
- 6g All American (AUS) x Savalook (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J M Austin Rdr: J R Collett 53.5
6
2.9
Greyworm
- 6g Master Of Design (AUS) x Miracle Magic (AUS) (Dash For Cash (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: B Avdulla 58.5
7
3.1
Criaderas
- 4g Lonhro (AUS) x Youthful Presence (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 53
8
4.0
Mister Sea Wolf
- 9g Amadeus Wolf (GB) x Rose De France (IRE) (Diktat (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 59
9
14.4
Plumatic
- 7h Dubawi (IRE) x Plumania (GB) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: J Parr 59
10
15.6
Mr Satchmo
- 6g Mr Sidney (USA) x Windya (FR) (Linamix (FR))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: T Marquand 55
More Reading...
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Kiwi Longshot Hope for Cup
Grant Cooksley came tantalisingly close to getting his hands on the Melbourne Cup as a jockey, and he is hoping to rectify that on Tuesday as a trainer when he lines-up Trust In You in the two-mile feature.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
I Am Superman Opens His Stakes Account
A three-time winner in Ireland, I Am Superman arrived in Australia with his trainer and part-owner Michael O’Callaghan for the inaugural $7,500,000 Golden Eagle after finishing third in a Group III race at Leopardstown following a meritorious sixth in the Group 1 2000 Guineas (1609m) at The Curragh won by Phoenix Of Spain from Too Darn Hot.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.