I Am Invincible's Cythera Strikes When the IRON'S Hot

Mark Smith - Saturday February 5

The International Racehorse Owners Network (IRON), headed by Muskoka Farm owner David Boehm, had its first big payday when the I Am Invincible filly Cythera made a winning career debut in Saturday's Listed Darley Lonhro Plate at Randwick.

Nice debut by Cythera (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Tommy Berry for Peter and Paul Snowden, Cythera held the brave Overshare filly Lady Laguna by a long head with a further one and a quarter lengths back to the Exosphere colt Spacewalk in third.

Cythera was a $420,000 purchase by IRON / George Moore Bloodstock from the Highgrove Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She is one of the seven IRON purchases at the sale that came at a total spend of $2,785,000.

"We were pretty confident she could run well," Paul Snowden said.

Advertisement

"It’s her first time at the races and things can go wrong and she did a lot wrong to tell you the truth.

“I was glad when Hughie (Bowman on Spacewalk) kicked up and gave us something to chase because she is still very new, and you saw her idle down late when she did hit the front.

She’s got the grouse attitude and obviously plenty of class so that will take us a long way.

“She has still got a lot more to offer, this filly.

“You’ve just got to let her tell the story. There is still a bit of water to go under the bridge.

“ I’m just ecstatic for the owners, Iron. It’s their first runner for us and it’s a winner, so they’ve got a very handy filly on their hands.”

Tommy Berry said the daughter of I Am Invincible has more to offer.

Cythera (image Steve Hart)

“She is a lovely filly. I really liked her off her trial, Berry said

“It was a very good effort for her to come here off just one trial. Usually, Peter gives them a couple.

“She hasn’t been the one from day dot that jumped out of the ground and said this is going to be the best two-year-old, but she has been the horse that has kept improving. There is a lot of substance about her, she’s a lovely type, nice size.”

A half-sister to Widden Stud’s Group II Australia Stakes winner and Group 1 William Reid Stakes runner-up Thronum (Snitzel), Cythera is the sixth winner from as many to race out of the imported mare Helena's Secret (USA) (Five Star Day).

Cythera a $420,000 Easter Yearling

Cythera’s promising 3yo half-brother Verne has not been seen in public since defeating the Group 1 Golden Rose winner In The Congo at Randwick last June.

Helena’s Secret (USA) was a $200,000 Keeneland purchase by Vin Cox, on behalf of Ron Gilbert's Highgrove Stud.

She is a half-sister to stakes-winner Tears I Cry (USA) (Chester House) out of the Danzig mare Mount Helena, a half-sister to champion Street Cry (Machiavellian) out of the Irish Oaks winner Helen Street (Troy).

Helena’s Secret (USA) died in 2020, and Cythere is her final foal.

Cythera becomes the 75th stakes winner for Yarraman Park Stud’s I Am Invincible, who may be on an unstoppable roll to his first champion sires title.

 

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Darley Lonhro Plate LR 1000m

Randwick Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:57.69
1
Cythera
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Helena's Secret (USA) (Five Star Day (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
I Am Invincible
2
0.2
Lady Laguna
- 2f Overshare (AUS) x Catalina De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
Overshare
3
1.5
Spacewalk
- 2c Exosphere (AUS) x Benenden (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 56
4
1.6
Boyfriend
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Exclusive Lass (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: J Parr 56
5
2.6
One Destiny
- 2g Super One (AUS) x Star Of Destiny (AUS) (Power Of Destiny (AUS))
Tnr: G R Nickson Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 56
6
3.6
Bessmati
- 2f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Quick Feet (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: C Schofield 54
7
4.1
Plymstock
- 2f Ribchester (IRE) x Outdoor (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Tim Clark 54
8
4.6
Tragara
- 2f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Ariaz (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: R & M Freedman Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
More Reading...
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.