G2 Australia S., $350,000, 1200m
Australian racing fans have been treated to great winning runs in recent years and it may be that we are now witnessing the start of another stellar career with the exciting Marabi (I Am Invincible) remaining undefeated after this outstanding performance.
It has been seven starts, seven wins for the Greenwich Stud homebred, one of her Yarraman Park star sire's 74 stakes winners.
Her dam, who died in 2020 (her final foal being the unraced Siteki by Flying Artie), is the G2 Sunline S. winner Nakaaya (Tiger Hill {Ire}) - also dam of the G1 VRC Oaks and G2 Wakeful S. winner Aristia (Lonhro) who retired to stud last spring, served by Zoustar (Northern Meteor).
Marabi has strong Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}) influence. Ancestress of I Am Invincible (and of his second dam sire Zoffany {USA}), she is also ancestress of Marabi's second damsire Marwina (Marscay) whilst her dam is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of her descendant Dignitas (USA) (Round Table {USA}).
This I Am Invincible/Marwina cross has not been given a big chance to succeed with only four named foals - but the three to race are all winners with two successful at stakes level, the other being the triple Group winner Invincible Gem.
Marabi can boast amongst her relations the stakes winners Sir Amadi (Maizcay), Royal Purler (Hector Protector {USA}), Mishani Warrior (Show A Heart) and Calorific (Desert Sun {GB}).
The race was a successful one for the Green Desert (USA) (Danzig {USA}) sireline, the runner-up Sinawann (Ire) being by Invincible Spirit's (Ire) son Kingman (GB) whilst the third-placed Turaath (GB) is by Green Desert's son Oasis Dream (GB).
Sunshine Coast: Listed Sunshine Coast Cup, $130,000, 1400m
It was an exciting finish to this contest with a tough Scallopini (Snitzel) digging deep to hold off a challenge from Oscar Zulu (Epaulette).
Now a three-time stakes winner, Scallopini was the second for the day for his Arrowfield Stud-based sire. Bred by S Gillard who remains in the ownership, he was purchased by Proven Thoroughbreds and Steve O'Dea for $200,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the first foal for the unraced Rose Of Mulan (More Than Ready {USA}) who has since produced the city winner Red Rubi (Rubick) and the recent Bathurst debut winner Shades Of Rose (Rubick).
Served last spring by Hellbent (I Am Invincible) having slipped to that same stallion the previous season, Rose Of Mulan also has a yet to race 2-year-old in the Danny O'Brien stable - the $420,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier graduate Decisively (Extreme Choice).
Rose Of Mulan is a daughter of the dual Group winner Lady Mulan (NZ) (Bigstone {Ire}) who produced five winners including the stakes-placed Absent Friends (Dehere {USA}).
Lady Mulan is a half-sister to the G3 Tramway winner Kinzaffra (NZ) (Kinjite {NZ}) and to the dam of the Singapore-based stakes winner Mr Hanks (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
A descendant of the influential matriarch Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}), Scallopini boasts crosses of the great mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
