'It is an incredible story and every year he delivers’: Yarraman offer 10 Vinnies at Easter

Cover image courtesy of Yarraman Park

Leading up to Sunday’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, The Thoroughbred Report had the opportunity to speak with Yarraman Park Stud’s Co-Director, Harry Mitchell. He reflected on the remarkable accomplishments of the stud’s Champion Sire, I Am Invincible, as well as some insights and expectations for their upcoming draft.

Yarraman Park Stud has enjoyed a sensational 12 months on the track through the deeds of its graduates and the progeny of its sires - I Am Invincible, his son Hellbent and the new arrival Brave Smash (Jpn).

King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible), who was bred, raised, and sold by Yarraman, kicked off 2024 impressively on the Gold Coast and went on to claim victory in the G2 Expressway S.

Gallery: Sires standing at Yarraman Park Stud

The promising 2-year-old Kuroyangi (Written Tycoon) achieved placings in both the G1 Blue Diamond S. and the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies). Additionally, the Hellbent mare, Hell Hath No Fury, secured a win in the G2 Guy Walter S.

Notably, Doull (Snitzel), a $1.2 million graduate from Yarraman Park Stud’s 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling draft, triumphed in the G2 Caulfield Sprint.

Yarraman Park Stud has returned to Riverside Stables with a high-quality draft of 14 yearlings, including 10 sired by the reigning Australian Champion, I Am Invincible.

The Vinnie effect

It's impossible not to be captivated by the story of I Am Invincible, affectionately known as “Vinnie,” a son of the renowned stallion Invincible Spirit (Ire), a one-time shuttler to Australia. I Am Invincible retired with a Group 3 win in Adelaide but was placed in a Group 1 behind the Champion Takeover Target (Celtic Swing {GB}), it is fair to say Vinnie’s legacy has far exceeded initial expectations.

Retired to the Mitchell brothers’ Yarraman Park Stud in 2010, he commenced his stud career with a modest fee of $11,000 (inc GST), which remained unchanged until 2014 when it increased to $27,500 (inc GST).

Vinnie’s potential soon became evident through his progeny’s achievements on the racetrack. This growing reputation led to a surge in his service fee, reaching an impressive $302,500 (inc GST) in 2023.

With 105 stakes winners to his name, I Am Invincible was rightfully crowned Champion Sire in Australia last year and is poised to defend his title this season. Leading the Australian General Sires List with earnings of $27,198,756, he holds a substantial lead of $9,989,129 million over the second-placed So You Think (NZ).

Beyond his success as a sire, I Am Invincible is making waves as a broodmare sire and sire of sires. His son Hellbent, a Yarraman Park Stud resident, has climbed to 12th place on the Leading General Australian Sires’ list.

As a broodmare sire, Vinnie has produced 200 runners, with 103 individual winners claiming 239 races, including six stakes winners. Notable names among his broodmare progeny include Asfoora (Flying Artie), a G2 Caulfield Sprint victor and multiple Group 1-placegetter; Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}), winner of the G2 Light Fingers S. and triple Group 1-placed; and Straight Charge (Written By), a promising juvenile who won the G2 Silver Slipper S. and secured placings in the G2 Todman S. and G3 Breeders’ Plate.

Others include Kalino (Pierro) and Hip Hip Hurrah (Snitzel) both Listed winners. With 157 mares covered, I Am Invincible’s best could still be ahead. His impressive lineup of mares includes Avantage (Fastnet Rock), a nine-time Group 1 winner; Aristia (Lonhro), the G1 VRC Oaks victor; Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner), a Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed; Eloping (Choisir), the dam of In Secret (I Am Invincible); and Miss Interiors (Flying Spur), the dam of Home Affairs.

Mitchell continues to be in awe of I Am Invincible’s achievements, “He’s very special. I think a lot is still to come. Vinnie has got some lovely crops coming through, and he’s just been a great ride for us at Yarraman Park Stud.

“It is an incredible story and every year he delivers. Obviously, Vinnie has had another exceptional year with the likes of Impertartiz and he’s nearly $10 million in front on the Australian General Sires’ Table - that’s incredible.

“He’s just an amazing horse. He throws such beautiful-looking, athletic, quality horses. I don’t think there’s ever been a horse that I can remember that consistently throws a type like Vinnie does.

“They can run as well. He’s just had a great season. Vinnie has all these young horses coming through like Estriella, who looks a potential Group 1 horse, there’s many others as well. It’s all very exciting and Vinnie is still very healthy, going well and very fertile still.

“So, you’re very, very lucky when you find a stallion like I Am Invincible - they don’t come along very often. You have to be even luckier that everything stays well with them.

“Vinnie is such a gentleman of a horse. As an individual he’s the loveliest natured horse, a lovely type but he’s a real sweetheart and a joy to be around and have on the farm.”

Legacy grows at Yarraman

Mitchell is also encouraged by the performance of the sons of I Am Invincible at stud, with 10 of them currently listed as standing at stud in Australia.

Among these, outside Yarraman Park's Hellbent, is Darley's Brazen Beau, a sire with Group 1 success to his name and the progenitor of exciting stallions Tassort and North Pacific.

Other notable sons of I Am Invincible include Overshare, another Group 1-producing sire; Super One, a stallion who has sired stakes winners; the promising Strasbourg; I Am Immortal; and the consistent winner-producer Kobayashi.

Additionally, Home Affairs, a dual Group 1 winner, has begun his stud career brightly. His first crop are weanlings. Despite this early stage, he has garnered significant attention and support at Coolmore Stud

Gallery: Some of I Am Invincible's progeny standing at stud

“I Am Invincible sired a horse like Brazen Beau in his first crop, and he has been a successful stallion. Vinnie has a lot of sons that are starting to do nice things. His daughters are also beginning to rise to prominence.

“Yarraman Park Stud stands Hellbent, and he was not an expensive horse when he started and for him to be sitting 12th on the Australian General Sires’ table is a great feather in his cap.

“The quality of mare going to Hellbent has increased alongside his fee. We’re very excited to get runners like Benedetta, Magic Time, Hell Hath No Fury and Fully Lit, in his first crops is outstanding.

“We’ve been very excited about him because what we love about them is they seem to be very easy to train, and they have a great-turn-of-foot, which is evident when you watch Magic Time or Benedetta.

“I think that’s what sets the I Am Invincible’s apart, and seems Hellbent has inherited the ability to throw that natural speed they can quicken off. We bought into Hellbent before he won a stakes race, so to have going so well at stud is great.

“Overall, I Am Invincible has been a wonderful stallion. Life-changing for us and Yarraman Park Stud, it's nice to have such a good stallion and we certainly appreciate him. Now we have a lot to look forward to from both Vinnie and Hellbent.”

Easter highlights

Delving into Yarraman Park Stud’s 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling draft, Mitchell provided his highlights. Two quality colts and two stunning fillies.

Sitting on top for the perch for the boys was Lot 84 and Lot 202, both sons of I Am Invincible. Starting with Lot 84, who is the sixth foal from the Blackfriars mare Isola Blu. She won over 1200 metres, and was fourth in the Listed Challenge S.

Four of her five named foals have raced, all winners. They are headed by Solaia (Toronado {Ire}), a five-time winner and dual Listed victress.

Isola Blu is a half-sister to Goon Serpent (Reset), who won four races from 1100 to 1600 metres, including the G2 Queen of the South S.

The second of Mitchell’s highlights is Lot 202. The colt is the fourth foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Overstep, a four-time winner from 1100 to 1200 metres. Overstep’s first foal Bews (I Am Invincible) showed talent, winning three races.

Meanwhile, her third foal, named Southampton Flare (I Am Invincible) was a $1.2 million purchase by Tom Magnier from the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the colt is unraced.

Overstep is from the family of the dual Listed winner and Group 3-placed Secret Liaison (Artie Schiller {USA}).

“Yarraman Park Stud will present 14 yearlings after scratchings. I think the two best colts are Lot 84, the Vinnie from Isola Blu and Lot 202 another son of Vinnie from Overstep.

“Physically, I think they’ll sell the best. The Overstep colt is quite outstanding, he’s one of the nicest colts I think we’ve ever taken to be sold, to be honest. He’s very good.”

As for the fillies, Mitchell nominated two daughters of I Am Invincible - Lot 142 and Lot 186.

Lot 142, a daughter of Meliora (Ad Valorem {USA}, the filly is her dam’s seventh foal. Meliora, a proven producer has already created success with I Am Invincible, having produced the Group 3 winner I Am Immortal, who is now standing at Swettenham Stud.

Additionally, Meliora is the dam of the Listed Phelan Ready S. winner Godfather (I Am Invincible). Meliora was a talented performer herself, winning the G2 Angus Armanasco S. among her four victories.

Meanwhile, Lot 186 is the third foal from Notting Hill, a daughter of Pierro. Notting Hill won twice but as testament to her type she was a $1.4 million purchase from the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling by James Harron Bloodstock and De Burgh Equine.

Notting Hill hails from the family of Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice, the Group 1-producing sires Al Maher, Rubick and Manhattan Rain. This is also the extended family of the triple Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock).

Immediate stakes winners on the page, include Notting Hill’s Group 3-winning half-sister Precious Lorraine (Encosta De Lago) and Lucky Raquie (Encosta De Lago), who won a Listed race.

“For the fillies I think the Notting Hill (Lot 186) is a star, and probably the next best would be the Meliora filly (Lot 142). Meliora has already had two stakes winners by Vinnie for us.

“Those would be the four stars. But overall Yarraman Park Stud has a nice even draft with what I think will be nice running horses.”

Expectations ahead of Sunday

Mitchell shared he has been pleased with the inspections ahead of Sunday’s kick-off and feels the sale will hold strong.

“We seem to be getting well received, so we’ll see what happens when the sale starts. I think the Australian Easter Yearling Sale is always a sale where trainers are going to be cautious because a lot of them still have horses to sell but they’re also mindful that this is the sale where there’s a lot of very, very good horses.

“If you’re serious about the horse business, you need to be at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, there’s a lot of big players and owners that buy here and they look to be here again this year.

“There’s obviously quite a bit of international money here. So, we’re hopeful but I think the better horses are always going to be easier to sell than the lesser horses - that’s a worldwide trend at any sale.”