Vinco Puts Icing on the Cake for I Am Invincible

Tara Madgwick - Thursday January 19

On a day when reigning champion sire I Am Invincible swept past Savabeel to reclaim his place at the top of the Australian General Sires List, six year-old gelding Vinco put the icing on the cake winning the $1million Magic Millions Cup (1425m) with four of the first five in the race also by I Am Invincible.

Vinco leads home four of the first five in this race by I Am Invincible! - image Grant Courtney

Tony Gollan put an exclamation mark on what may well go down as the most memorable day of his decorated training career when Vinco saluted.

Advertisement

Vinco registered the most lucrative win of his career when he denied favourite Oscar Zulu in the 1425-metre event that rounded out the Magic Millions Raceday.

It was the second win of the day for Queensland’s leading trainer, who three hours earlier saw his Better Than Ready filly Skirt The Law maintain her unbeaten record in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.



“It’s been amazing day,” Gollan said. “The filly was unbelievable early and to have that sort of thrill early in the day makes it hard to keep things rolling.

“It’s a great finish to a brilliant day.”

Vinco brought up his 10th win at start No 43 when he scooted home along the inside under the urgings of Ben Thompson to score.

The $21 chance scored by three-quarters-of-a-length from $3.60 favourite Oscar Zulu with Holyfield ($7) just a long-head away third.

A $400,000 purchase out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Vinco had his first 12 starts for the McEvoy stable before joining Gollan in early 2020.

Vinco earns the biggest cheque of his career - image Grant Courtney

His biggest win before Thursday’s success was last year’s Listed Spear Chief (1500m) at Eagle Farm.

“He was our roughest runner of the whole day, Vinco, and I was concerned when the track was earlier in the week,” Gollan said.

“In the run we were never going to be confident on him because he’s a really hard horse to ride and Ben knows him well.

“He keeps at him and at him and he dared to go on the inside where no one dared to go.”
 

It was an emotional victory for Thompson, who was narrowly beaten aboard Yellow Brick in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas earlier in the day.

“He went so good, Yellow Brick but unfortunately he found one better today,” Thompson said.

“It’s obviously bittersweet because I’d ridden Fashion Legend at his last two starts and I was only wrong but a neck, but that’s all it took.

“But, to ride a winner is hard enough and I’m fortunate to get a winner today (because) they’re not easy to come by.

“A huge thank you to Tony Gollan. He’s a great supporter of mine and just to get a winner on these big days when the best riders in the land are in town is great.”

Vinco was bred by Yarraman Park and is a half-brother to Group II placed Berimbau, the dam of triple Group I winning NZ trained mare Imperatriz, who is also by I Am Invincible.

Vinco is the last foal from winning Encosta de Lago mare Percussive, who died in 2016.

Vinco was the third Magic Millions winner of the day bred and sold by Yarraman Park joining King of Sparta and Centrefire.

Advertisment

Race Result - $1m Whispering Angel Mm Cup-Rl RL 1425m

Gold Coast Track: Good(4) Time: 1:23.13
1
Vinco
- 6g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Percussive (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ben Thompson 54
I Am Invincible
2
0.8
Oscar Zulu
- 5g Epaulette (AUS) x Ininthree (NZ) (Generous (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57.5
3
1.0
Holyfield
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Hurtle Myrtle (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Brodie Loy 59
I Am Invincible
4
2.0
Palladas
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Tabliope (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: J R Collett 54
5
2.1
Edison
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x A Million Tears (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: J C Smerdon Rdr: M Cahill 54
6
2.2
Vega One
- 7g Lope De Vega (IRE) x One Funny Honey (USA) (Distorted Humor (USA))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Jamie Kah 60.5
7
2.7
Love Tap
- 5g Tapit (USA) x Smokey's Love (USA) (Forestry (USA))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
8
2.8
Amish Boy
- 5g Star Witness (AUS) x Sheeznodoubt (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Avdulla 54.5
9
3.6
Animate
- 6g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Flowerchild (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Craig Williams 54
10
4.9
Emerald Kingdom
- 8g Bryannbo's Gift (NZ) x Horshoe (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Desleigh Forster Rdr: J Byrne 60
11
7.4
Superium
- 6g Verrazano (USA) x Rosie's Halo (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
12
7.5
Redouble
- 9g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Special Mission (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Kumpikas Rdr: Ms S Thornton 54
13
16.8
King Of Hastings
- 6g Ilovethiscity (AUS) x Handcut (AUS) (Danerich (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Rachel King 54
More Reading...
Sir Delius Delivers G1 Turnbull Stakes Win
Adding Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) to his Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory last start, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sir Delius further enhanced his outstanding reputation ahead of an assault on the WS Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
G1 Metrop Win for Australian Bloodstock
Second in the Italian Derby at three, progressive stayer Royal Supremacy (IRE) had racked up multiple Group placings in Europe before his sale to Australian Bloodstock and broke through for his first ever stakes win when taking out the $750,000 Group I ATC The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chirs Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).