Shalaa Colt Invincible Papa Impresses Again in Japan

Mark Smith - Sunday April 14

Following his nine-length demolition of a 3-year-old maiden over 1200m at Nakayama on March 6, the Australian-bred Shalaa (IRE) colt Invincible Papa returned to the scene of the crime to towel up a 1200m allowance on the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) undercard.   

A third winner for Yuga Kawada in the first five races, Invincible Papa looked to have a battle when Ryusei Sakai ranged alongside on the Discreet Cat colt Secret Vow at the 250m.

Given little more than a shake of the reins, the son of Woodside Park Stud’s Shalaa (IRE) lengthened to put four lengths on Secret Vow with a further three lengths back to the Red Felix filly Toa Aigis in third.

Invincible Papa is now two for three having debuted with a third behind the Justify (USA) colt Roly Glory (USA) at Tokyo on February 18.

Trained by Daishi Ito, the Mikako Sakota-owned colt was a $200,000 purchase for Inc Macys, in collaboration with Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA), from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Invincible Papa a $200,000 Inglis Easter yearling

His dam Shwaimsa (IRE) (Canford Cliffs) is a half-sister to Needlecraft, a multiple Group III winner in France and dam of the Champion Sprinter & Miler in Japan in 2018, Fine Needle.

At the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Liam Howley Racing bought a full sister to Invincible Papa for $70,000 from the Widden Stud draft.

After foaling a Trapeze Artist filly last spring, Shwaimsa (IRE) revisited the son of Snitzel.

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