Invincible team looks past the post

BITS & PIECES

THEY SAID IT

“I think we can improve him a bit more on that,” said Whittlesea trainer Peter Morgan of I Am Invincible, who won the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday despite missing the start by about a length. Morgan’s comment followed a warning that “they (the races) get better as the year gets going, though”.

Next target is the $100,000 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 1, followed by the $200,000 Group 3 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 12 and, “if everything’s going to plan”, the $500,000 Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at the Valley on Friday night, September 25.

Whether that improvement can take him overseas as owner Brett Gall was spruiking after the win remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt I Am Invincible (B h 4, Invincible Spirit (IRE)-Cannarelle, by Canny Lad) is quick and good.

Asked how much ground the slow start had cost, rider Darren Gauci answered indirectly but succinctly: “Well, after that happens they very rarely win.“ 

And they very rarely beat horses racing in the form Gran Sasso is – Brian Mayfield-Smith’s sprinter, coming off three wins, had a cosy run but just failed to run down I Am Invincible, who speared through from his middle gate to lead inside the first 100 metres.

Gauci rode I Am Invincible when beaten a length by Takeover Target in the Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville in May. “He did a good job last preparation when he ran second to Takeover Target,” Gauci said. “He’s come back just as good, I think.”

Gall has stud plans in mind for the impressive-looking son of Invincible Spirit, one of Europe’s hot stallions, hence the reason he is looking to add a northern hemisphere win to I Am Invincible’s CV – runs in the US, Kong Kong and England will be considered. Invincible Spirit (B h 1997, Green Desert (USA)-Rafha ((GB), by Kri (GB)) sired Fleeting Spirit, the Group 1 July Cup (1200m) winner at Newmarket this month (when Takeover Target broke down and the other Australian, Scenic Blast, flopped). He stood at Chatswood Stud in Victoria for four seasons up to 2006.

I Am Invincible was a $62,500 purchase at the 2006 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Like many other horses, he has blossomed under the care of Morgan. The trainer has a well-earned reputation for preparing problem horses, especially by using a water-walker. “We have managed his feet a bit and put a tongue tie on him, and it is all working,” he said of I Am Invincible, who was trained originally by Toby Edmonds in Sydney, where he won two from five. He is 5-11 now.

(Read Danny Power’s story on Peter Morgan, “The Fixer” in The Thoroughbred magazine’s 2009 summer edition).

“He weighs 464 kilos but 463 kilos of it is his ticker,” said Sunshine Coast trainer Jason McLachlan of Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready (Br c 2, More Than Ready (USA)-Nancy Eleanor, by Blevic). The rising three-year-old will go to Sydney this week for a race on August 15 before running in the new Group 1, the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on August 29. After that it will be on to Melbourne with the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) his target.

WE SAW IT

The latest chapter in the Leica story was played out at Caulfield, with Leica Larrikin (Br g 3, Nothin’ Leica Dane-Lady Peregrine, by Scrupules (IRE)) finishing midfield against his own age in the Slickpix Cup (2000m), and elder siblings Leica Falcon (7YO) and Leica Rose  (5YO) near the rear in the Griffiths Coffee Cup (1800m). The Falcon was fat, but is not the bright light of his “near glory days”, when fifth and fourth in the 2005 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups; the Rose is a country performer; and the Larrikin, with a 4.5kg weight rise, did not have the dash he showed in his win at Flemington on July 4. Still, he is the one to follow.

Gran Sasso (B g Dehere (USA)-Lady Soffel, by Rubiton) was a grand trier in not quite getting to I Am Invincible in the Monash, but more impressive was stablemate  At The Crease (B g 3, Catcher In The Rye (IRE)-Dynamite Lady, by Zeditave), winner of the Bensons Property Group Plate (1400m). Trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith said he would give the 3YO a short break before a brief spring campaign, and suggested the gelding would be worth following in the autumn. For those who can’t wait that long, Mayfield-Smith is back in form with winners at the past four Saturday city meetings, so stick with him.

WE’LL WATCH IT

The metropolitan premiership races have only three meetings to go in Melbourne and four in Sydney, and the Melbourne jockeys’ and trainers’ battles are the ones that will go to the wire – Craig Williams’ win on Benelli at Caulfield brought him level with Damien Oliver on 68; and Lee Freedman (64) remains one in front of David Hayes (63) after neither added to his tally. Top apprentices Nick Hall and Dean Holland also went home empty-handed – each has 32 wins. The battles resume at Sandown on Wednesday.

Gai Waterhouse (83.5) is holding off Peter Snowden (79) in the Sydney trainers’ race, and the interest left in the jockeys’ premiership is whether Hugh Bowman (96) can reach 100, having left Corey Brown (82) behind.

In Adelaide, Simon Price (44.5) and Chad Lever (44) are neck and neck for the jockeys’ premiership ahead of Matthew Nielson (41); David Hayes (44) is clear of Leon Macdonald (33.5) in the trainers’ race.

In Perth William Pike (86) and Neville Parnham (73) have their titles won. Shane Scriven (48) and Robbie Heathcote (46) will win in Brisbane. And in Tasmania, Brendan McCoull (85) is home, but Charlie Goggin (47) is being pressed by John Blacker (44).

The Australian Racing Hall of Fame has narrowed to four the field for its next legend spot, and will name the contenders tomorrow at Champions, the Australian Racing Museum in Melbourne. Scobie Breasley and Carbine are certain nominees, with T.J. Smith, George Moore and Tulloch as other chances, but only one will be raised alongside Phar Lap and Bart Cummings at the Hall of Fame dinner at the end of August. Our money is on Carbine.

Saturday’s Listed races will be at Morphettville (the Dermody Stakes, 1050m) and Belmont (the Beaufine Stakes, 1000m).

Other metro meetings are at: Moonee Valley, where the focus is on jumps racing with the $200,000 Hiskens Steeplechase (3700m) and the $100,000 Moonee Valley Hurdle (3700m); Randwick; and Doomben. Ascot (in the UK, not WA) has the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2400m).