King of Sparta Wins G2 Expressway

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 17

Yarraman Park bred, sold and co-owned I Am Invincible gelding King of Sparta arrived at Randwick on Saturday with residual fitness in his favour after winning the $1million Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) last month and he duly took the prize in the Group II ATC Expressway Stakes (1200m).

King of Sparta wins the G2 Expressway Stakes - image Steve Hart

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden by James McDonald, King Of Sparta settled back off a hot pace set by tearaway leader Malkovich and was able to close off hard late to win by  half a length from Coal Crusher with Malkovich holding on for third.

 

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;He’s in great form and we’ve really got a good handle on him now and with him it’s less is more,” said Paul Snowden, who will now be looking to plot a course to the rich $5million Quokka(1200m) at Ascot on April 20.

“It’s a juggling act as to how to prepare him and get him over there in as good an order as we can. We’ll make that call in the next week and it may be just a trial. It’s exciting for the ownership group and the horse to be racing for that sort of money.”

King of Sparta was a $700,000 Magic Millions purchase.

A $700,000 yearling purchase for China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and Starlight Racing from Yarraman Park at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, King of Sparta was gelded after just four runs and his overall record is now eight wins and seven placings from 28 starts with prizemoney topping $3.3million.

After being gelded he had a change of ownership and King Of Sparta is now raced by a syndicate headed by Yarraman Park and is the best of four winners to date for Group III winning Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) mare Octavia, who is back in foal again to I Am Invincible.

Advertisment

Race Result - James Squire Expressway Stakes Gr2 1200m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:09.17
1
King Of Sparta
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Octavia (AUS) (Holy Roman Emperor (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57.5
I Am Invincible
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $700,000
Seller: Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW
Buyer: China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Starlight Racing
2
0.5
Coal Crusher
- 6g Turffontein (AUS) x Media Academy (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Tyler Schiller 57.5
3
0.8
Malkovich
- 6g Choisir (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 56
Choisir
Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale $240,000
Seller: Woodpark Stud, Mittagong
Buyer: Darby Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $85,000
Seller: Ascot Park, Pitt Town
Buyer: Woodpark Stud
4
1.4
Buenos Noches
- 4h Supido (AUS) x Koi (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: N Rawiller 57
5
3.8
Strait Acer
- 4g Headwater (AUS) x Money Wanted (AUS) (Wanted (AUS))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
6
4.7
West Of Dalby
- 3f Santos (AUS) x Chinchilla (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Benjamin Smith Rdr: Brock Ryan 51
7
5.5
Golden Mile
- 4h Astern (AUS) x Calaverite (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 57.5
More Reading...
King Of Sparta Wins Bletchingly For I Am Invincible
I Am Invincible three-year-old King Of Sparta was too strong for the older horses with a determined win in the Bletchingly Stakes (Gr.3) at Caulfield on Saturday.
King Charles III new patron for NZTBA
The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is delighted to announce that His Majesty King Charles III is their new patron.
$730,000 Parmalove Tops Inglis Digital
A rollercoaster week of emotions for Gus Wigley and the Inglewood Stud team ended on a high tonight when Parmalove realised a sale-high $730,000 in the Inglis Digital May (Early) Online Sale.
NZ Eventer Annabel Tuthill Turns Her Hand to Racing
Former New Zealand eventer Annabel Tuthill has added another string to her equine bow by taking out her thoroughbred trainer’s license.
Blueblood Filly Wins for Peachester Lodge
Graham and Linda Huddy of Peachester Lodge are the biggest and most passionate sponsors of the Thoroughbred Sport Horse National Titles show at Stonewall Equestrian next week and their colours were in the winner’s circle at Randwick on Wednesday carried by blueblood filly Wild Gypsy.
Magic Millions Off the Track Cup Back Bigger and Better in 2025
Magic Millions Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Cup announces qualifiers in QLD, NSW and the introduction of a new qualifying round in Victoria in 2024 ahead of the QOTT Cup Final at the 2025 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping on Sunday, 5 January on the Gold Coast vying for $50,000 in prizemoney.
Track Record for I Am Invincible's King Of Sparta
It’s often a tough decision to geld a high-priced yearling, especially when it is owned by a consortium of breeders, but it looks to have have done the trick for King Of Sparta.
King of Sparta Loves the Gold Coast!
Yarraman Park bred, sold and co-owned I Am Invincible gelding King of Sparta captured the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in 2022, the Magic Millions Sprint in 2023 and returned to the Gold Coast on Saturday to do it all again scoring a commanding win in the $1million Magic Millions Snippets (!200m).
King Of Sparta Electric in Falvelon Quality
A high-priced son of I Am Invincible, King Of Sparta was gelded after failing to win in his first four starts at two.
Yarraman Park Celebrate King of Sparta MM Sprint Victory
Yarraman Park bred, sold and co-owned King of Sparta captured the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas last year and was back for another big win at the Gold Coast on Thursday winning the $1million Magic Millions Sprint (1200m).