One to Watch – Bendigo

Tara Madgwick - Sunday February 6

Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible produced an eye-catching debut two year-old winner at Bendigo on Sunday.

Advertisement

Hafey wins on debut for the Victorian Stallion Alliance partners - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Hafey was a hot favourite for the 1100m maiden and proved a class above for Craig Williams striding clear for a powerful three and three-quarter length win.
 



Hafey was a $525,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft for Rosemont Victorian Alliance / Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) / David Redvers Bloodstock and was bred by Emaroo Bloodstock.

He is the first foal from Group I placed import Beat the Benchmark (USA), a half-sister by Speightstown to stakes-winner Abraham.

Beat the Benchmark has a yearling colt by American Pharoah (USA), a weanling colt by Pierro and was covered lats year by Wootton Bassett (GB).

Hafey is the fifth two year-old winner this season for I Am Invincible with those winners including three stakes-winners – Cythera, Queen of the Ball and Ebhaar.
 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.
Al Riffa Aiming Towards Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock
The exceptional qualities of Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) are such that he can get fast juveniles and also high class older horses over a distance and we are set to see a taste of it this spring as media reports suggest Australian Bloodstock have purchased his top class 5YO stallion Al Riffa.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
Breeding to Win - 2025 G1 Memsie Stakes
The big guns step out and spring is on in earnest when the Memsie (1400m WFA) rolls around and what a cracking field we have in 2025 for the first G1 of the Southern spring with 11 runners and 10 are G1 winners!
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.