Undefeated I Am Invincible Mare Marabi Wins G2 Australia Stakes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday January 29

Super exciting sprint queen Marabi kept her unbeaten record perfect going six for six when scoring a commanding victory in the Group II MVRC Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Advertisement

Marabi wins the G2 Australia Stakes in a breeze - image Grant Courtney

Stepping out on a soft track for the first time, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained daughter of I Am Invincible made it look all too easy, coasting along in the lead for Ben Allen and then powering clear to win by nearly three lengths.
 



"There were concerns about how the track was and she proved today she is classes above,” said Ben Allen, who has ridden Marabi in  five of her six wins.

"She went at a nice gallop and that is her best asset. She can go at that high speed and breaks their hearts because she can keep it up while the others struggle.

"She keeps surprising us every time she steps out. She's a good mare.

“She just keeps stepping up to the plate, and hopefully the Oakleigh Plate is next for her.”

Marabi has become a very valuable mare.

David Eustace was delighted with five year-old Marabi, who has won in excess of $459,000 in the past 12 months having only made her debut in February last year.
 
"Credit to her and credit to the team. She's been up a little while and, yes, she's had her runs spaced, but the team at Cranbourne have done a great job with her and I think she's proved today at weight-for-age that she's very smart,” said Eustace.

"You don't think that you're going to win races of this calibre by that far. She's beaten a decent field albeit a lot of horses kicking off their campaigns and she couldn't have been any more impressive.

"Credit to Benny, he knows her extremely well. He's got a lot of confidence in her and he rode her accordingly."

A homebred for Greg Perry, Marabi is a half-sister to Group I VRC Oaks winner Aristia from Group II winning Tiger Hill (IRE) mare Nakaaya, who died in 2020.

Marabi looms as another potential Group I winner for I Am Invincible to follow in the footsteps of his past sprint queens Loving Gaby and Viddora.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Australia Stakes Gr2 1200m

Moonee Valley Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:11.42
1
Marabi
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Nakaaya (AUS) (Tiger Hill (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ben Allen 56.5
I Am Invincible
2
2.8
Sinawann
- 5h Kingman (GB) x Simawa (IRE) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Craig Williams 58.5
3
3.1
Turaath
- 5m Oasis Dream (GB) x Fadhayyil (IRE) (Tamayuz (GB))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond Rdr: Damian Lane 56.5
4
3.5
Lightsaber
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Dream Cirque (AUS) (Dream Ahead (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Jamie Kah 55
5
3.7
Streets Of Avalon
- 7g Magnus (AUS) x Kamuniak (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: B Prebble 58.5
6
4.0
Mariamia
- 5m Toronado (IRE) x Quinta Lago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Shane Stockdale Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56.5
7
4.5
Wild Planet
- 6g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Salutations (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 58.5
8
4.8
Just Folk
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Fast Ruby (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: Joshua Julius Rdr: John Allen 58.5
9
8.6
Order Of Command
- 7g Squamosa (AUS) x Commanding Angel (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
10
11.1
Vainstream
- 7g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Yasey San (AUS) (Yasey (JPN))
Tnr: John Pascoe Rdr: C Newitt 58.5
11
31.1
Game Keeper
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x My Tusker (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Jordan Childs 58.5
More Reading...
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
Royal Ascot Day 5 – Runaway, Rising Empire and My Best Friend
After five spectacular days of racing, Royal Ascot is over with the finale overnight producing high drama with a runaway G1 winner, the rise of a racing empire and the first stakes horse for St Mark’s Basilica.
Aussie Owned Filly Wins G1 Royal Ascot Coronation Stakes
Long shots were the order of the day at Royal Ascot on Day 4 and there was no bigger or better upset than the 33-1 shock winner of the Group I Coronation Stakes (1m) for three year-old fillies with the winner Cercene sired by Epsom Derby winner Australia and owned by Australian Shane Stafford.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Royal Ascot Day 4- Roughies Rule and an Aussie Owned Fairytale
The racing roller coaster took a big dive at Royal Ascot on Day 4 which was not a good day for favourite backers with roughies ruling in both G1 races and a first season sire produced the winner of the juvenile feature on the card.
Aussie Golden Eagle Form Delivers Royal Ascot G1 Finale
There were a couple of Aussie elements to the brilliant victory of Lazzat in the Group I Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (6f) at Royal Ascot overnight as he came to our shores last year and very nearly won the $10million Golden Eagle.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.