Invincible Group Double to Start the Day

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 7
I Am Invincible made a fast start on the first day of The Championships at Randwick siring two of the first three stakes-winners on the program with a surprise victory for two year-old Paquirri in the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes followed by a welcome return to form for last season's star two year-old Houtzen in the Group III ATC PJ Bell Stakes.

The Gary Moore trained colt Paquirri had been placed at three of his four previous starts but got under the guard of punters went sent off at odds of $51 for the Kindergarten.

Paquirri wins the G3 KindergartenRidden a treat by Andrew Adkins from barrier one, he enjoyed a cosy run and drew away to win the 1100 metre dash by a length and a half over Legend of Condor with race favourite Lean Mean Machine in third place.

The win did not come as a surprise to his trainer, who had added blinkers to his gear and was hopeful of a better showing.

"I worked him in blinkers and I jumped him out on the pro ride at Rosehill and he went sensational," Moore revealed.

"Don't forget he was first emergency for the Magic Millions race on the Gold Coast.

"He's shown that of a morning but we haven't been able to get it out of him. He was very calm today, looked well and he got to the line."

Moore said Paquirri would likely head to Queensland for a step up in class.

"I think he's up to a Group One when he's ridden like that off a good draw," he said.

A $265,000 Magic Millions Perth purchase for his trainer from the Dawson Stud draft, Paquirri was the second highest priced yearling sold at that sale.

He is the first and only foal of stakes-winner Miss Solis, who died in 2016. She was a half-sister by Oratorio (IRE) to this season's two year-old stakes-winner Setsuna from the family of Melbourne Cup winner Jezabeel.

He is the 30th stakes-winner for I Am Invincible, who made it a stakes double two races later when his high class three year-old filly Houtzen scored a brave victory in the PJ Bell over 1200 metres, her sixth win from 11 starts with prizemoney topping $1.8 million.

Houtzen wins the G3 PJ BellThe Toby Edmonds trained filly raced up on the pace and refused to give in down the running to score a short neck win over Problem Solver, who is by Yarraman Park's Hinchinbrook.

"I'm both relieved and elated," Edmonds said.

"There were some doubts whether she was the genuine type being such a precocious two-year-old.

"We knew we had her quite underdone coming here a month ago when she ran third.

"She's a much bigger and stronger filly now. She is turning into a mare.

"Depending on how she comes through this race we could back her up next week in the Arrowfield Sprint."

Both fillies were bought from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2016 Magic Millions, Houtzen fetching $105,000 and Problem Solver making $160,000.

Bred by the late Noel Leckie, Houtzen is the first winner from Reset mare Set to Unleash, whose dam is a half-sister to globe-trotting Champion 3YO Filly Sun Classique. She was covered again last spring by I Am Invincible.

Victorem wins the Country ChampionsipThe winning run continued for I Am Invincible in the $500,000 Country Championships Final with promising three year-old Victorem maintaining his impressive record to score a dominant two and a half length win in the 1400 metre feature.

Prepared at Port Macquarie by Jenny Graham, Victorem has won five of six starts earning $607,000 with his lone defeat a fourth placed debut at Casino in May last year when he bucked at the start!

Victorem was bought by his trainer for $65,000 at the Magic Millions 2YO's in Training Sale in 2016 from the draft of Symphony Lodge.

He is the first winner for Playful Miss, a Sydney metro winner by Foreplay from the family of Group I winner Ball Park.

I Am Invincible was unlucky not to have had the winner of the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes with his exceptional filly Oohood beaten a whisker by long shot El Dorado Dreaming after being held up for a run.

Third in the Blue Diamond and then second in the Golden Slipper, Oohood is knocking on the door of a Group I win!

With 41 entries in the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next week I Am Invincible is right at the top of his game on the track and in the sale ring.

All images Steve Hart


Advertisment
More Reading...
Impressive First Winner for Graff and a Quinella!
Standing at Kitchwin Hills, brilliantly fast Group II winning sprinter Graff is on the board with his first winner after the well named colt Grafterburners produced a dazzling last to first win at Ipswich on Wednesday.
Late 210,000 guineas Sale for Savabeel Mare in foal Too Darn Hot
The five-year-old broodmare SEDAKA, offered in foal to TOO DARN HOT on a Southern Hemisphere cover, has been sold for a record 210,000 guineas to Kestrel Thoroughbreds’ Bruce Slade on behalf of Nocab Racing, making her the top priced lot in the Tattersalls Online December Sale and the highest priced broodmare ever sold on the platform.
$1000 Mare Gives Trainer a Pick Me Up Win
Sam Mynott woke up to a pleasing result from her hospital bed on Wednesday afternoon, with Electron taking out the Stella Artois 1500 Qualifying Race (1600m) at Ruakaka.
$1.53 Million Showjumping and Polo Add to the Magic Millions Carnival
Magic Millions confirmed the much-anticipated line-up of teams and competitors across the entertainment-packed Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at Doug Jennings Park on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
OTI Move on Promising Pierro 3YO
Tony Pike is confident Golden Century can realise his full potential over ground and his opinion has been endorsed by a major international player.
Street Boss 2YO Trifecta at Warwick Farm
The ‘blue army’ was out in force in the two year-old fillies maiden at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when Godolphin sent out four unraced fillies trained by James Cummings, three of them by Street Boss (USA) and a fourth by Bivouac and they were one, two, three and four turning for home!
Sharp 'n' Smart Ready for Summer Campaign
Former New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart is set to head to Trentham on Saturday to kick-off his summer campaign and ready for a Group One assignment at the Upper Hutt track next month.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 17
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pause for Thought
You see a yearling and you love the yearling, but then you see the x-ray and you are given pause for thought - what happens next?
One to Watch – Warwick Farm
Winning a $100,000 Super Maiden on debut at Warwick Farm on a Wednesday is a nice way to kick off your career, especially if you are a well bred filly by The Autumn Sun.