We receive a lot of interesting
emails and feedback to Breednet and one of our readers is racing historian
Michael Sheridan, who has delved into the far distant past of our Champion
Australian First Season Sire I Am Invincible to reveal some fascinating facts.
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) (1-n) Australia's leading first season sire for the
2013-14 season descends from broodmare
gem SIMPER (GB) 1912, purchased by Mr.J.B. Reid of the Elderslie Stud, Oamaru, New
Zealand, as a two-year-old for 110 guineas.
On being imported SIMPER went to the matron's paddock. Her eleven foals
produced nine winners.
GOLD LIGHT (Hymettrus) 14 wins and 2 dead-heats (CJC N.Z.Oaks dead-heat,
Avondale Cup), RAZZLE DAZZLE (Kilbroney) 12 wins (CJC N.Z. Oaks, Challenge
Stakes, beating Gloaming), AFFECTATION (Kilbroney) 11 wins (ARC Great Northern
Champagne Stakes), RULING LIGHT (Chief Ruler) 8 wins (WRC Metropolitan
Handicap, Anniversary Handicap), SIR SIMPER (Grand Knight) 6 wins (VATC Toorak
Handicap, 3rd. Caulfield Cup), LUCKY LIGHT (Paper Money) 6 wins BEACON LIGHT
(Boniform) 4 wins (Avondale Cup), SPEED LIGHT (Paper Money) 4 wins (WRC
Wellesley Stakes), DAZZLING LIGHT (Kilbroney) 1 win
Australian descendants of SIMPER included FLIGHT (Royal Step) 24 wins,
MVRC W.S. Cox Plate, twice), SKY HIGH (Star Kingdom) 29 wins (STC Golden
Slipper Stakes, AJC Derby, VRC Derby) SKYLINE (Star Kingdom) 5 wins (STC Golden
Slipper Stakes, AJC Derby), ELECTRO (Delville Wood) 13 wins (AJC Sydney Cup),
CITIUS (Star Kingdom) 9 wins (AJC Doncaster Handicap, VATC Oakleigh Plate), ST
RAZZLE (St Magnus) 9 wins (VATC Futurity Stakes, twice), CALEDONIAN BOY (Plush)
9 wins (VATC Elders Mile), INNESFELL (Pictavia) 5 wins (VRC Oaks), and TARAMOA
(Man's Pal) 2 wins (VRC Australian Cup).
SIMPER was a granddaughter of CHELANDRY (UK) winner of 5 races including the
1897 English Two Thousand Guineas. CHELANDRY needs no introduction to southern
hemisphere breeders her influence strongly prevails world-wide to the present
time.
Australian descendants of CHELANDRY included MAGPIE (GB) 1914, who finished
2nd. In the English Two Thousand Guineas. Imported to Australia MAGPIE won the
VATC Caulfield Stakes. MAGPIE stood at the Kia-Ora Stud, NSW, and was the sire
of WINDBAG (10 c) 18 wins (Melbourne Cup), AMOUNIS (5) 33 wins (AJC Epsom
Handicap - twice, MVRC W.S. Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup).
MAGPIE was the broodmare sire of SHANNON (AUS) (8-g) by (Midstream) 20 wins
(AJC Epsom Handicap, AJC George Main Stakes - twice, and in America the
Hollywood Gold Cup). MAGPIE was the leading Australian sire in the 1928-29
season.
HEROIC (AUS) 21 wins, (AJC Derby, VATC Caulfield Guineas, MVRC W.S Cox
Plate, VRC Newmarket Handicap). HEROIC was the sire of AJAX (2-e) 36 wins
(Caulfield Guineas, MVRC W.S. Cox Plate, VRC Newmarket Handicap, L.K.S.
Mackinnon Stakes), HALL MARK (2-e) 18 wins (AJC Derby, Doncaster Handicap, VRC
Derby, Melbourne Cup). HEROIC was Australia's leading sire for seven seasons from
1932-33 to 1938-39.
In addition, HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) (Sadlers Wells) Epsom Derby. Shuttle Stallion
to New Zealand and Australia, and sire of So You Think (10 Group 1 wins
including MVRC W.S. Cox Plate - twice).
Other important winners descending from CHELANDRY included the Melbourne Cup
winners THE TRUMP (Manfred), BAYSTONE (Brimstone), JUST A DASH (Whiskey Road)
AMERICAIN (Dynaformer), IMPOSERA (Imposing) VATC Caulfield Cup, WAHID
(Almutawakel) ARC New Zealand Derby,
PRINCESS COUP (Encosta De Lago) WRC New Zealand Oaks.
The following have been inducted into the AUSTRALIAN RACING HALL OF FAME - HEROIC
(2003), AJAX (2004), AMOUNIS (2006), SHANNON (2006), FLIGHT (2007), and SKY HIGH (2010).