Following another phenomenal season, both on and off the track, Australia’s leadingstallion, I Am Invincible, will stand at Yarraman Park at a fee of $302,500 (inc GST) in 2023.
The figure is the same that the great Encosta De Lago stood for at Coolmore in 2008. In that same year (as well as 2007), Arrowfield Stud resident, the legendary Redoute’s Choice, commanded a fee of $330,000 (inc GST).
I Am Invincible’s numbers are quite extraordinary.
He boasts 92 individual stakes winners and 14 Group 1 winners.
I Am Invincible will stand for an increased fee of $302,500 (inc GST) in 2023 | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
‘Vinnie’ won his maiden Australian Sires’ Premiership in 2021/22, with his progeny amassing earnings just shy of $20 million and more than $500,000 ahead of his nearest rival. During that season, he had 185 individual winners and they combined for 314 wins, while 17 individual stakes winners tallied 25 stakes wins.
Yarraman Park director, Harry Mitchell, believes I Am Invincible has done enough to be mentioned in the same conversation as Australia’s all-time great sires.
“Yeah, I think he does. He’s a phenomenal stallion and he gets phenomenal-looking stock,” Mitchell told TDN AusNZ.
“I think he will go down in history as one of the great stallions. He’s been in the top two or three in Australia for a number of years, including last year, where he was Champion Sire, and he’s a good chance to repeat that this year.”
“I think he (I Am Invincible) will go down in history as one of the great stallions. He’s been in the top two or three in Australia for a number of years, including last year, where he was Champion Sire, and he’s a good chance to repeat that this year.” - Harry Mitchell
At the yearlings sales this year, I Am Invincible has had 91 yearlings sell for an extraordinary aggregate of $62,090,000 and an average of $682,307.
Remarkably, the stallion has had 17 yearlings make at least $1 million in 2023, with his top-seller being the colt offered by Segenhoe Stud from Anaheed (Fastnet Rock), who was purchased by Tom Magnier for $2.7 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, an auction where he finished with an average of $736,136.
Mitchell said he and the team at Yarraman Park thought long and hard regarding I Am Invincible’s fee, before settling on the figure of $302,500.
Harry Mitchell
He added that the stallion isn’t getting any younger - he’s 18 - and they are mindful of not overtaxing him. Last year, he covered 178 mares, after serving 193 mares in each of 2021 and 2020.
“There was talk of him going higher; we just think that’s a fair price. A lot of people said we should have gone to $300,000 (plus GST), but we reckon $275,000 plus GST is about right,” Mitchell explained.
“People with very good mares are going to support him and that’s how it should be.
“He’s an older horse now, so we’re looking to reduce his book a bit; it means we can pick and choose a bit.
“He’s (I Am Invincible) an older horse now, so we’re looking to reduce his book a bit; it means we can pick and choose a bit.” - Harry Mitchell
“We’re very comfortable with our own mares and what we have got booked for him, and it wouldn’t worry us if we didn’t get any more, but there are a few spots available.
“Given his sales results this year, his fee is pretty fair. He’s topped the averages at every sale by a mile.”
Son of a gun a star on the rise
I Am Invincible’s Group 1-winning son, Hellbent, seems to be following in the footsteps of his old man.
Fourth in last season’s First Season Sires’ title, he currently sits second in the Second Season Sires’ race, with 38 winners and prizemoney just north of $4 million.
Hellbent will stand for an increased fee of $38,500 (inc GST) in 2023 | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Hellbent has two stakes winners - Magic Time and Kristilli - as well as the exciting Benedetta - winner of four of her six starts.
His fee rises to $38,500 (inc GST), up from $22,000 (inc GST).
“We’re rapt with him, it’s really exciting, he’s got a number of horses that look to have the ability to reach the top level. Horses like Magic Time, Benedetta and Kristilli are all talented and it shows that he’s on the right road,” said Mitchell.
“We’re very fond of that horse. We bought 50 per cent of him before he’d won a stakes race and we’re very excited about him.
“We’re rapt with him (Hellbent), it’s really exciting, he’s got a number of horses that look to have the ability to reach the top level. Horses like Magic Time, Benedetta and Kristilli are all talented and it shows that he’s on the right road.” - Harry Mitchell
“He’s a great type-getter, they’re so athletic, his horses. We have some weanlings on the farm and they are as good as the Vinnies (progeny of I Am Invincible), he can just throw the most cracking types. We’re so proud of him and I think he is going to be a major influence in the years to come.”
Ready to support the new recruit
Earlier this month, Yarraman Park announced the acquisition of promising stallion Brave Smash (Jpn) from Aquis Farm.
He will stand his first season at Yarraman Park at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Brave Smash (Jpn) will stand for an increased fee of $33,000 (inc GST) in 2023 | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Brave Smash, who possesses some serious Japan bloodlines - being a son of Tosen Phantom (Jpn), a Group 1-winning son of the multiple Group 1 hero Neo Universe (Jpn), in turn a son of the highly influential Sunday Silence (USA) - has created a big early impression.
He sits third in the First Season Sires’ Premiership and has five individual winners. Among them is Brave Mead, who was victorious in the Listed Valley Pearl S. (formerly the St Albans S.), and classy Western Australian colt Brave Halo a three-time winner who had little luck contesting the Blue Diamond series.
“We think he’s perfect for us, we like him very much,” Mitchell remarked.
“We think he’s (Brave Smash) perfect for us, we like him very much.” - Harry Mitchell
“He’s done incredibly well from limited stock out there. They all seem to have good ability and good temperaments.
“To have three very high-class 2-year-olds already… we’re very excited about him, he’s our type of horse. He’s a lovely, strong, masculine horse with a great hindleg on him; he’s just a lovely horse.”
| I Am Invincible | Invincible Spirit | $302,500 | $247,500 | 178 |
| Hellbent | I Am Invincible | $38,500 | $22,000 | 165 |
| Brave Smash | Tosen Phantom | $33,000 | $22,000 | 89 |
Table: Yarraman Park Stud's stallion fees for 2023, *all prices inclusive of GST
