Five for I Am Invincible
The newly crowned Champion Sire I Am Invincible sired a five-timer on Saturday headed by Imperatriz’s victory in the G2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
The stallion was also represented by a winner at Betoota with 6-year-old gelding Labuk adding a seventh win to his record, while Coat Of Arms landed a race at Toowoomba and Merry Mac Boy took out a race at Morphettville. Meanwhile, his daughter Sweet Margot May saluted the judge at Eagle Farm.
Savabeel chalks up four
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Champion Sire Savabeel also enjoyed a good day, siring four winners, including Because (NZ) who landed the seventh start of his career at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
In Australia, the stallion was responsible for three winners, headed by I Wish I Win’s (NZ) victory at Caulfield, while Jade’s Mission and Captain Envious (NZ) took out the respective contests at Kilcoy and Warracknabeal.
Cups races for Emissary
Emissary (GB) (Kingman {GB}) could be aimed at Cups races later in the spring as he broke through for his first victory in Australia in the Saturday’s Listed Heatherlie S. at Caulfield.
The son of Kingman (GB) finished strongly to beat Sheraz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) 0.5l, while Jimmy The Bear (Jimmy Creed {USA}) was the same distance away in third.
“He showed us glimpses last time around,” Moroney said. “We bought a couple of horses out of the English Derby, and he was one of them, and he’s really gone on with it.
Emissary wins the Listed Heatherlie S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“I think you’ll see him at his best this season now. We gelded him straight away when we brought him across, and I think that’s been a big help.
“He’s a really nice horse, and he’s going to be a lightweight chance in some of these Cups, I would think.
“We sort of threw him in the deep end a bit in the autumn because we thought he was good enough, and now he comes to handicaps, he’s going to be nicely in, I would think.”
Hope In Your Heart springs upset
Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel {NZ}) has capped a memorable week for trainer Kerry Parker, outgunning odds-on favourite Frumos (Kitten's Joy {USA}) to land her third career win at Rosehill.
It came just two days after Parker's stable star Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}), who is currently on a rehabilitation program for a tendon injury that has ruled him out of the spring, was crowned NSW middle-distance and provincial Horse of the Year at the NSW Racing Night Of Champions awards ceremony.
"She was only a light little filly and she strengthened really good with a spell," Parker said.
"She showed good determination, as the favourite loomed up outside her and she really dug in and drew away at the end.
"At this stage, I'm happy to keep her around this middle-distance and I think until she tells me she's looking for something up (in distance), there are plenty of options around that," he said.
"I'm not in a hurry to get to anything. It's a long spring and there are plenty of options there if you can take your time."
Shinn returns with a winner
Blake Shinn, who has just returned to Australia having spent a number of years in Hong Kong, got his spring off to the best possible start when he steered Spanish Tides (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) to victory in the first race at Caulfield.
Shinn got a late call-up for the ride by trainer Luke Oliver on Friday night after his booked rider Billy Egan took a heavy fall at the Pakenham races.
Blake Shinn | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"Obviously, I spare a lot of thought to Billy," Shinn said of the rider who has undergone surgery for a left arm injury. "It's terrible what happened to him.
"He was on the cusp of having a great carnival and then something like this happens. But no doubt, he'll bounce back."
Shinn's day got better when he steered Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to victory in the third race on the card.
