A $260,000 I Am Invincible colt would be considered ‘a cheapie’ in the context of a stallion whose progeny routinely sell for $1million and more, but the debut victory of this fellow would suggest ability is certainly not lacking.
Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Daggers was a class above when making his debut in a 1300m three year-old maiden at Sandown on Wednesday, dropping his rivals cold to win by four lengths under Luke Currie.
Busuttin has been patient with Daggers, who has taken time to put it altogether and is a half-brother to the stable’s classy Group III winning stayer Muramasa.
"I'm certainly happy when they win like that," Busuttin said.
"We liked the horse early days, but he hasn't quite been as sharp in his jumpouts as what he has in our trackwork, so we were second guessing ourselves a little but his last couple of pieces of work have been good.
"He knows he's a colt like Muramasa did and he ended up a gelding, so hopefully this bloke doesn't.
"We'll take the next step and see where he ends up."
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership with GSA Bloodstock, Daggers was purchased from Inglis Easter by Busuttin Racing and is the second winner from Group II winning High Chaparral (IRE) mare Omei Sword, a daughter of Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights, the dam of Northern Hemisphere bred stakes-winners Lipizzaner and Just Steel.
Arrowfield sold a Snitzel yearling colt from Omei Sword at Inglis Easter this year for $875,000 to Rosemont Stud / Chris Waller Racing / Suman Hedge Bloodstock and she is back in foal to Snitzel after missing in 2022.