Spring is in the air with the Group 1 Winx Stakes and an intriguing edition of the Group II Silver Shadow Stakes for the new season three-year-old fillies highlighting a top card at Randwick on Saturday.
Newly crowned champion stallion, I Am Invincible, and champion first season sire Russian Revolution look to play a significant role in the Silver Shadow.
I Am Invincible has three acceptors, Queen Of The Ball, In Secret, and Mumbai Jewel.
In Secret a $900,000 Magic Millions yearling
Following the scratching of Russian Conquest, Russian Revolution relies on the top-class Revolutionary Miss.
Heavy hitters Snitzel and Zoustar are represented by two starters each. Snitzel has the progressive Willinga Beast and the underrated Snitcat. Zoustar has the Chris Waller-trained Zougotcha and the Gai Waterhouse-trained North Star Lass.
The chances don't end there.
Rubick has been on fire of late and has a bright prospect in the Luke Pepper-trained Opal Ridge.
Aquis Farm's Kobayashi has the consistent Midnight In Tokyo, who made the trip down from the Gold Coast for a last-start win at Randwick.
We will celebrate I Am Invincible's rise to the top with Godolphin's In Secret, who looks to stretch her unbeaten record to three.
Following a winning career debut at Hawkesbury on April 13, In Secret added the Listed Woodlands Stakes on a heavy track at Scone on May 14.
Consigned by Segenhoe Stud to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, In Secret was hammered down to Godolphin for $900,000.
Segenhoe bred In Secret in association with Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm.
Christian and his wife Siobhan Miller bred In Secret's dam Eloping through their Saconi Thoroughbreds.
Consigned by Southern Cross Breeders to the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in 2013, the daughter of Choisir was a $120,000 purchase for Dean Hawthorne.
Eloping initially raced for a syndicate headed by Siobhan Miller, who would not have had a moment's concern in buying her back.
No catching Eloping in the Royal Randwick Stakes (image Mark Smith)
Trained by Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison, Eloping made a winning debut at Bendigo on December 22, 2013. She then went to Caulfield for the Listed Blue Diamond Preview, where she defeated Lumosty.
The undefeated run ended when second to the top-class Earthquake in the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude. Coincidently, Mumbai Jewel's dam Mumbai Rock finished last in the race.
Eloping added the rich VOBIS Gold Rush at Bendigo and the $500,000 Group III ATC Royal Randwick Stakes (now The Percy Sykes Stakes) in a busy juvenile season. Seventh in Mossfun's Golden Slipper, Eloping closed out her 2yo year with a fourth to Brazen Beau in the Group II Champagne Classic at Doomben.
At three, the daughter of Choisir added the Group III Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley and Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.
Stephen Baster had a great association with Eloping (image Mark Smith)
After four unplaced runs when transferred to John Sargent, Eloping claimed the Listed Silk Stocking for Peter Robl when carrying the Segenhoe silks.
Overall, Eloping won seven and placed in four of her 24 starts with prizemoney of $1,230,150.
Golden Slipper winner Sebring was chosen as the first mate for Eloping. She foaled a colt named King Of Hearts, who was a $160,000 Inglis Premier yearling. He has won one and placed in seven of his 18 starts to date.
After missing to I Am Invincible in 2017, Eloping foaled In Secret. Following is a filly from the first crop of Trapeze Artist that was a $200,000 purchase for Mick Price at the Inglis Premier earlier this year
Continuing the run of fillies, Eloping had a daughter of Snitzel last spring before renewing acquaintances with I Am Invincible.
