The most expensive yearling by champion sire I Am Invincible sold in 2022, stylish grey filly I Am Famous made $2million at Inglis Easter for Tyreel Stud and opened her account at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Handled patiently by Chris Waller, I Am Famous has been a work in progress and more often than not her own worst enemy, but produced first up in a 1300m maiden with James McDonald on board we finally saw a glimpse of her true ability.
With two recent trials to bring her to fitness, I Am Famous enjoyed a quiet ride from McDonald and when she found room out wide on the track was able to put herself into the picture.
I Am Famous let down with a good burst making light of the heavy ground to score a neck win at her sixth race start.
“She’s got a mind of her own and has not been easy,” said James McDonald.
“Today I was able to get her into a lovely rhythm even though she was wide. She just needs to take a breath.”
I Am Famous was purchased by Ross Visalli’s Yellow Brick Road/ Mitchell Bloodstock and is a big investment in a family going places with other family members being Group I winner Chain of Lightning and Group III winner Po Kare Kare, who both sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $2.5million and $750,000 respectively.
“Mr Visalli has allowed us to give her the time to mature and it was a pleasing return today,” said Chris Waller.
A half-sister to Everest winner and $9.3million earner Classique Legend and Group II winner Aethero, I Am Famous becomes the fourth winner from four foals to race from terrific producer Pinocchio, a winning full sister to Champion Miler and five time Group I winner Racing to Win.
Tyreel Stud elected to sell Pinocchio at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale this year in foal to I Am Invincible and she duly made $1.15million to the bid of Bromfield Park / Group 1 Bloodstock.
As hard as it must have been to part with Pinocchio, Linda Monds and her team have a little bit to go on with from their much loved mare as they still have a weanling filly from the star producer by I Am Invincible and a two year-old Pierro filly called Candlewick that has been retained and is in work with John O’Shea.