I Am Invincible - New Winner

Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the scene of that 2023 triumph to take out the Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in a thrilling three-way finish to the Te Rapa staying feature.

There was an overload of racing right around the country on New Year’s Day and rightly so given our national interest in horse racing as a sport to be enjoyed over the holiday break and there was a winner that did catch my eye, but until now have not had a chance to put my thoughts into a story.

A $575,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Newgate Farm for PR Funds, Snitzel gelding Yorskhire took another leap forward at Randwick on Saturday when taking out the $2million Group II ATC The Ingham (1600m) earning automatic entry for next year’s Group I ATC Doncaster Mile.

Trainer Joe Pride is not afraid to travel his horses to where he feels they can win, and this was once again on display on Saturday with 5yo Shamus Award mare The Black Cloud having just her second start away from home, charging late to win the $160,000 Listed BRC Bribie Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm.

A winner two starts back in the Group 2 VRC Linlithgow Stakes (1400m) before fifth in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), the drop back to 1400m for Saturday’s $1m Supernova at Pakenham returned a windfall for the Ciaron Maher trained Warnie (IRE).

The late Bede Murray would be very proud of his son Paul after the astute Kembla trainer produced a Christmas fairytale result at Randwick on Saturday when $1250 Inglis Digital online purchase Where’s the Circus ran her rivals ragged on debut to win the $400,000 Inglis Nursery RL (1000m).

Placed in a G1 Queensland Oaks at three and winner of the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown at the end of last season, Russian Revolution mare Miss Jolene is primed for a lucrative summer campaign following a barnstorming win in the Listed BRC Tails Stakes (1500m) at Eagle Farm.

With six last-start winners, Saturday’s Ranvet Hcp at Randwick has, remarkably for a mid-winter event, brought together an exciting field of 2-year-olds and a stiff initiation for the lone unraced horse in the race,  Qatars Choice.

Trainer Liam Birchley has long earmarked the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) for highly promising juvenile Dream Roca, and the daughter of El Roca took another step in the direction of the Ellerslie feature with a dominant win at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

With six previous black type placed performance, it was a fantastic result for the connections of the Philip Stokes trained Dansili (GB) gelding Taramansour (IRE) as the 9yo charged away to win the $300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) by three and a quarter lengths.