Invincible Colt Turns Debutant Stakes into a Procession

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 8

The Listed MRC Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday only had six runners, but we might have seen an exceptional juvenile with I Am Invincible colt King’s Gambit winning by five lengths untouched to become the first stakes winner for a joint venture between Newgate Farm and Gooree Stud.

King's Gambit wins the Debutant Stakes by daylight - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, King’s Gambit was sent out favourite after winning his only barrier trial in Sydney and gave Blake Shinn the easiest of rides.

Advertisement

He stalked the leaders and ambled past them like they were tied to the fence, accelerating quickly two win by five in a slick 57.93 seconds with Capitalist filly Perfect Paradise closing late for second.  

Both King’s Gambit and Perfect Paradise were foaled and raised at Newgate Farm, the former running for a partnership involving Gooree Stud, Newgate, China Horse Club and associates, while the latter sold at Magic Millions for $260,000 in the Newgate draft to Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock.

“He was impressive today and it was his first start - they were all first starters. If he did pull up really well there'll be a discussion with the ownership group, no doubt,” said Peter Snowden.

"The Golden Gift is a million dollar race in about three or four weeks time so that is an option, but if the horse has had enough in a couple of weeks time, that'll be enough for us to tip him out. It'll depend how he's come through the run."

Having not gone through a yearling sale, King’s Gambit is not eligible for any sales incentive races so connections can chart a more relaxed path to the autumn carnival and he already has over $100,000 in prizemoney from this debut victory.

"Full credit to Henry (Field) and the team. They picked him out as a 'weaner' and bought into him and it's just great to team up with the Snowden's again,” said Blake Shinn.

"The clients in this horse, Gooree Stud, I've have a long association with them, and the Snowdens and Henry Field and that ownership group.

"He's pretty exciting horse and he won with authority today. He was bombproof and that's how you like to see the two-year-olds win."

King's Gambit was foaled and raised at Newgate for Gooree Stud.

King’s Gambit is the second winner from Group III winning Encosta de Lago mare Sultry Feeling, a half-sister to Group III winner Swift Alliance from a US Black Type family. Sultry Feeling has a yearling filly by Snitzel that is likely to be offered at Magic Millions next year.

“He is the result of a joint venture between Newgate Farm and Gooree Stud and it’s so exciting to get such a great outcome,” said Henry Field.

“Gooree sent about 10 mares to Newgate for us to manage and this colt was born and raised at our farm.

“As a weanling he was as good an I Am Invincible colt as we have ever seen and the opportunity came up to buy into him so we jumped at it.

“I’m grateful to the Cojuangco family for being given the opportunity to be involved with their success and hopefully King’s Gambit is the start of a long and fruitful association.”

King’s Gambit is the 83rd stakes-winner for Yarraman Park’s reigning champion sire I am Invincible and is his eighth stakes-winner from a daughter of Encosta de Lago, the nick running at 21% stakes-winner to runner.

Advertisment

Race Result - Magic Millions Debutant Stakes LR 1000m

Caulfield Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:57.93
1
King's Gambit
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sultry Feeling (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Shinn 58
I Am Invincible
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $350,000
Seller: Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW (As Agent for Newgate/Gooree Joint Venture)
Buyer: Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA)
2
5.0
Pure Paradise
- 2f Capitalist (AUS) x Impetuous (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: Ethan Brown 56
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $180,000
Seller: Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Richard & Will Freedman
MM Gold Coast National Weanling Sale $135,000
Seller: Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Cross Park Stud
3
5.4
Heuristic
- 2c Street Boss (USA) x Admissible (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 58
4
5.5
Shesallshenanigans
- 2f Toronado (IRE) x Segenhoe Valley (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: Simon Zahra Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56
5
15.5
Princess Duhallow
- 2f Shalaa (IRE) x Duhallow (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: L Nolen 56
6
25.5
Adeem
- 2c Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Oohood (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: D Oliver 58
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
Favourite Whisky On The Hill (GB) Wins Listed R.M. Ansett Classic
With just a small field of seven runners jumping away in the Listed MRC R.M. Ansett Classic (2415m) at Mornington on Sunday, it was the Glen Thompson trained Whiskey On The Hill (GB) (Ribchester) who took the prize, securing his first black type victory.
Sires With Winners - Friday September 26
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Beiwacht Breaks Track Record In G1 Golden Rose Romp
With many of the opinion that Godolphin would provide the winner of this year’s $1m Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m), they were right, but not with the 3yo expected as the Chris Waller trained Bivouac colt Beiwacht was simply sensational in his track record breaking victory.
Inglis Ready2Race Purchase Headed to $3million Big Dance
Sales for two year-olds in training are looming on the horizon for all three auction houses and the $150,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m) on Sunday has eligibility for the $3million Big Dance for the winner and it was progressive Exceedance 4YO Cristal Clear, who claimed the prize.
Pedigree Watch – G1 European 2YO
Juveniles took centre stage overnight in the UK and Ireland with a pair of Group I races decided at Newmarket in the Middle Park Stakes (6f) for the colts and Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) for the fillies, while at The Curragh a field of 30 lined up in the Goffs Million, the richest 2YO race in Europe.
Bred to Win a Caulfield Guineas?
It’s been a good weekend for Yarraman Park's champion sire I Am Invincible with a G1 winner and a colt soon to roll the dice in a G1 of his own.
Waterford Wins G2 Shannon Stakes
Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.