A $475,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase last year for the China Horse Club, Invader raced away to become the first Group One winning juvenile colt for the season in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
An Arrowfield Stud graduate, Invader led home a trifecta result for former Magic Millions sold Group One winner Snitzel with an emphatic win.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden said they would wait and see how the classy colt pulled up before deciding whether to run in next week’s Group One Champagne Stakes.
Winning rider Hugh Bowman predicted a bright future for the valuable youngster saying “he won with authority in the end.”
As well as the China Horse Club, the colt is part owned by Newgate Farm, Aquis Farm, Horse Ventures and WinStar Farm.
Invader wasn’t the only Magic Millions sold runner to star at Randwick with his exciting stablemate Acatour also winning at group level.
Ridden off the speed, the son of Sebring finished with a flurry to win the Carbine Club Stakes in stunning fashion.
Acatour was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock in conjunction with Snowden Racing for $160,000 at the 2015 Gold Coast Yearling Sale – the colt was sold through the draft of Widden Stud.
Carrying the colours made famous by Capitalist, Acatour enjoyed getting back on a less affected wet track today and his class shone through over the concluding stages.
On a big day at Bendigo there were more impressive performances from Magic Millions graduates headlined by the dashing victory in the listed Guineas for Milwaukee.
A son of Fastnet Rock and the well related mare Hummingbird, Milwaukee showed a sustained high cruising speed under Patrick Moloney to win handsomely for the Michael Moroney stable.
Milwaukee was purchased as a yearling from the draft of Coolmore Stud for $300,000 by Moroney’s bloodstock agent brother Paul on the Gold Coast.
Earlier on the Bendigo card the rich $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush lived up to its name with a dominant on speed win for the second starter Speed Street.
By Al Maher, Speed Street went one better than on debut and pocketed a pretty penny for his connections including Rosemont Stud, co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and red hot jockey Beau Mertens.
Speed Street was purchased by Waterhouse and Julian Blaxland for $130,000 from the Goodwood Farm draft at last year’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
In Adelaide quality sprinter Karlovasi broke through for his first stakes win with an exciting win in the listed Manihi Classic.
Prepared at the track by Richard Jolly, Karlovasi got the result in a thrilling finish over Viddora delighting connections including jockey Paul Gatt.
A half brother to SA Derby winner Kushadasi, Karlovasi was purchased by Jolly for $70,000 at the Adelaide Yearling Sale – the very same sale where the runner-up Viddora was purchased for $40,000.
Karlovasi was sold through the draft of Cornerstone Stud – offered on behalf of his breeder, Robert Hill-Smith of Vintage Bloodstock.
A massive day was completed in Perth when a rare juvenile double-double highlighted a three for three result for horses sold by Magic Millions.
Lucy Mae and Archernar Star led home their rivals in the day’s feature – the $500,000 Group Two Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot.
It was a carbon copy result of the $250,000 Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic at Pinjarra in February when the gutsy filly and exciting colt ran one-two.
An $80,000 Perth Yearling Sale purchase for part owner Martin Epis from the Scenic Lodge draft, Lucy Mae is a daughter of former Golden Slipper winner Stratum and what she lacks in size, she makes up for in fight.
After a battle down the entire length of the Ascot straight, Lucy Mae edged out Gingerbread Man’s first crop son Achernar Star to win by a long head.
The filly is raced by Epis in partnership with Isobel Ledden – both saying how proud they were of their young star.
“Lucy Mae is named after my granddaughter from Kalgoorlie – a special girl and now this filly is very special as well,” Ledden said.
The famous cerise and white colours of Bob and Sandra Peters were expected to dominate today’s Group Three Western Australian Oaks and it was a filly they purchased who came out on top.
The Redoute’s Choice filly Very Tempting, a $420,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from Vinery Stud, outlasted the hot favourite Royal Star in a thrilling finish.
Very Tempting had been the victim of bad luck at a couple of her lead up runs, but today was able to benefit from a heady Chris Parnham ride to win the state’s premier staying event for fillies.
Damon Gabbedy of Belmont Bloodstock Agency purchased Very Tempting for the Peters’ and well known businessman Bob said the first and second placegetters in the Oaks would most likely run in the Derby against the boys.
Earlier in the day the in form galloper Man Booker added yet another feature race to his growing resume when successful in the listed Grandstand Cup.
Partnered by regular rider Jerry Noske, Man Booker led home fellow Magic Millions Perth Yearling graduates Great Shot and Red Ora in the 1500 metre event.
Trainer Dan Morton said the $25,000 Perth Winter Yearling Sale purchase would most likely have one more run before a spell and his preparation then aimed at the rich Summer Carnival.
It was almost a perfect afternoon for Man Booker’s dam Morine – her son Archernar Star narrowly beaten in the Group Two Karrakatta Plate. Both, like last weekend’s Group One winner Silent Sedition, were bred by Ellie Giles of Korilya Stud.
