First Stakes Win for Newly Gelded Garza Blanca

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 30

The Listed MRC Doveton Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday produced a long overdue Black Type win for talented I Am Invincible five year-old Garza Blanca, who was gelded prior  to his current preparation.

Garza Blanca wins his first stakes race - image Scott Barbour / Race Photos

Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Craig Williams, Garza Blanca has always shown good ability and produced a career best performance to win by half a length at his second run back from a spell.

 

The heavy track might have raised a potential issue, but Garza Blanca got the desired result.

"There was a little bit of concern, the surface is probably not ideal for him, but I thought the horse was very right,” said Ciaron Maher.

"He's a horse with a lot of ability and it was a great ride by Craig. It was a little bit of a nervous watch there towards the end but very good (result).

"He's had a few little issues, he's been gelded, but I actually got a bit nervous when I saw the heavy hitters were here - Neil (Werrett) and Gerry (Ryan) - they all turned up and I thought, 'gee, we better make sure we've got everything right here'.

"I think he will go right on with it now, he's a pretty good horse."

Garza Blanca had plenty of owners to celebrate his win - image Scott Barbour / Race Photos

A $700,000 Magic Millions purchase from Vinery Stud for International Thoroughbred Solutions, Garza Blanca has a big syndicate of owners that includes his breeders and has the overall record of four wins and five seconds from 15 starts with prizemoney topping $426,000.

Garza Blanca is a half-brother to stakes-placed Easy Dun and is the best of two winners from Mousai, a winning half-sister to champion sprinter and G1 sire Starspangledbanner and three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Amicus, the dam of Group winners Okita Soushi and Chief Little Rock.

Mousai has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and after having a year off in 2023 has been covered this spring by Ole Kirk.

Garza Blanca is the 111th stakes-winner for Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible.

It's a prolific Black Type family and there are 10 yearlings entered for upcoming sales that have Garza Blanca in their pedigree.

Click to see the page with links. 

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Premier Signs Doveton Stakes LR 1200m

Caulfield Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:12.02
1
Garza Blanca
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Mousai (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Craig Williams 54
I Am Invincible
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $700,000
Seller: Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW
Buyer: International Thoroughbred Solutions
2
0.5
It'sourtime
- 7g Time For War (AUS) x Zedoble (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 56.5
3
6.5
I Am Unstoppable
- 4h I Am Invincible (AUS) x Satin Slipper (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M Zahra 58
I Am Invincible
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $65,000
Seller: Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW
Buyer: Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA)
4
6.6
Poland
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Sun Song (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: Beau Mertens 54
5
7
British Columbia
- 6g Vancouver (AUS) x Blowin In The Wind (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: H Coffey 54
6
11
Cottee
- 5m Merchant Navy (AUS) x Ruud Not Too (NZ) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
More Reading...
Pencarrow Mare Chasing More Black Type
Classy mare Pearl Of Alsace will have an opportunity to get back in the winning groove at New Plymouth on Saturday, tackling the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m).
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
The big guns were in action at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning with the likes of Via Sistina (IRE), Ceolwulf and Fangirl stepping out as well as glamour three year-olds Switzerland, Broadsiding, Private Life and Lady Shenandoah, but they have been well exposed through social media so we’ll stick to the juveniles and they also held plenty of autumn promise.
Book 2 Closes out Successful Karaka 2025
The curtain came down on the final day of selling at NZB’s 99th National Yearling Sales Series with the last day of Book 2 continuing the trend of steady trade. 
Patella Bloodstock - Kneebone builds firepower for training venture
A productive week of shopping at Karaka has helped to put up-and-coming horseman Nick Kneebone on a path towards New Zealand’s training ranks.
Satono Aladdin Goes Back to Back at Karaka Book 2
Rich Hill Stud stallion Satono Aladdin has provided the headline acts of Book 2 of Karaka 2025, siring the highest-priced lots on both Wednesday and Thursday.
Karaka Book 1 - Pinhook Winners
The NZB National Yearling Sale Book 1 was held earlier this week and as always there are a good selection of Australian bred yearlings offered that are pinhooked from various sales here and we’re taking a look at the most profitable and you can also check out the full list of all that were offered.
Savabeel Filly Pointing Towards NZ Derby
With an eye to the future, the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) is the preferred Classic option for talented filly Hinekaha.
Blue Point Colt Chasing Kiwi G1
Next week’s Legends Day at Te Rapa will have a strong international flavour, with Sydney trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald set to tackle the meeting’s two Group One features with a pair of high-profile runners.
Sires With Winners - Thursday January 30
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
The Canonbury takes - Often a Guide to Stardom
Saturday’s Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill has been used in recent years as the starting point for two of Chris Waller’s superstars (neither of them winning by the way) and the race is often one of the autumn’s strongest leads so let’s have a closer look.