Invincible Star led the way with the most impressive of debut performances, sprinting to success in the Group Three Ottawa Stakes under world renowned Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira.
A $200,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse and Julian Blaxland from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at January’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Invincible Star will look to return to Queensland.
“The little filly has been down here for quite some time,” co-trainer Gai Waterhouse said after the race. “She is a Magic Millions purchase and you will see a clean pair of heels up there as well in about six weeks time.”
Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott, wasn’t sure where the filly might be seen in between. The Clockwise Classic at Ballarat a possibility. The $2 million Jeep Magic Millions 2YO Classic will be run at the Gold Coast on January 14.
Invincible Star proved much too fast for her rivals on debut – leading home the outside division of the field clearly. Third placegetter and warm favourite Madeenaty lost few admirers being left on her own a long way out toward the inside rail.
As her name suggests, Invincible Star is a daughter of leading Hunter Valley based sire I Am Invincible and his base Yarraman Park had double reason to celebrate.
Yarraman is preparing Invincible Star’s full sister to go under the hammer at January’s 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Waterhouse and Bott made it an early double when Sort After won the next race in a powerful on speed performance.
The four-year-old mare by Wanted from stakes winner Patronyme, cruised to the line three lengths clear of her rivals.
A $200,000 purchase from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2014 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Sort After has won four of her 10 starts and looks an exciting, progressive prospect.
“We’ve got her nominated for Saturday’s Matriarch Stakes – so you’ll more than likely see her back up there,” Bott said.
Australia’s leading trainer Darren Weir joined the party on Cup Day with a very promising galloper of his own, Speedeor.
A three-year-old colt by Northern Meteor, Speedeor made it two wins from three starts when he led home a quality field in the fifth race of the afternoon.
“He’ll go to Ballarat Cup Day now – there’s a three and four-year-old 1100 metres Millions race there and if he runs well there – there in the back of our minds is the Magic Millions 3YO (Guineas), but he’s got a long way to go before he gets there,” Weir said.
Speedeor, bred by Baramul Stud’s Paul Thompson, was sold to Weir through the Baramul draft for $45,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Weir made it a race to race double with Magic Millions graduates when his in form filly Jennifer Lynn flew home to win the listed Desirable Stakes.
The High Chaparral-Espurante filly produced a power house finish to reel in Prompt Response and win a thrilling black type event.
“She’s a nice staying filly and she did that on raw ability,” Weir said while indicating a Sydney autumn campaign could be on the cards.
“All she wants to do is find the line, it’s a really good sign for the future,” Weir added.
Peter and Paul Snowden joined the stakes winning list on Cup Day when they prepared Flippant to win the listed Always Welcome Stakes.
A well bred filly from the same family as former super mare Atlantic Jewel, Flippant added another feature win to her resume with a comprehensive two and a half length success.
“She had no luck last start when she got knocked down at a vital stage,” co-trainer Paul Snowden said. “Obviously the loves the straight track and Blake (Shinn) rode her accordingly.”
Snowden said connections would most likely spell the daughter of Hinchinbrook now before looking at the autumn.
Flippant was purchased as a yearling by McKeever Bloodstock for $220,000 at the 2014 Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Bell River Thoroughbreds. She’s now earned over $415,000 and is a very valuable breeding prospect for connections.
The day’s other stakes race run in Australia, Perth’s listed Burgess Queen Stakes at Ascot provided another feature success for Magic Millions.
Well bred filly Ellicazoom raced to the line a length clear of fellow Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate Caipirinha to score an important black type win.
By Testa Rossa and from the Group One winner Ellicorsam, Ellicazoom was ridden to victory by Steven Parnham for his training father Neville and owner Santo Guagliardo.
The filly, a winner of two of her four starts, was purchased for $180,000 from the draft of Attunga Stud.
Meanwhile, Sydney’s feature race on Melbourne Cup Day, the $150,000 Choisir Handicap provided a one-two finish for the two Magic Millions graduates in the field.
Kaepernick beat home Bachman in the 1100 metre race. At his previous run Kaepernick came from back in the field, and wide, to run second to Group One bound sprinter Spieth.
A $400,000 yearling purchase from Broadwater Thoroughbreds, the Hawkes Racing prepared Kaepernick has already earned over $470,000 and looks to have more feature wins in store.
