Invader Colt Mount Olympus Puts Them to the Sword

Mark Smith - Tuesday July 18

Heavily backed favourite Mount Olympus enjoyed a pleasant day out at Ballarat on Tuesday, barely breaking a sweat in a seven-length romp in a 1200m maiden on the synthetic track.

A nifty piece of advertisement placement (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Jamie Mott for Tony and Calvin McEvoy, the 2yo son of Invader jumped a length in front and was never headed.

With the chasing pack off the bit chasing on the home turn, Mount Olympus was allowed to cruise to the line, defeating the So You Think debutant Ruminate by seven lengths with another first starter, the Mikki Isle (JPN) filly Isle Of Mikkinos three-quarters of a length back in third.

Mount Olympus was the lone runner in the race with previous race experience, but it has not been plain sailing.

He fractured a pelvis on debut when last of eight in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington last October when solidly supported.

Advertisement

Off the scene for 38 weeks, the son of Invader was beaten less than a length behind Godolphin’s I Am Invincible colt Massira in over 1147m at Geelong.

“I’m happy to get the job done for Tony, Calvin and the team. He looked a good ride on paper and has a deal of ability,” Jamie Mott said.

“Seven lengths could have been ten because I never got to the bottom of him.

“He was impressive, and you could imagine he could go to something like a midweek at Sandown.”

A $100,000 pinhook for Lionrock Bloodstock/Bevan Smith Bloodstock/Ferguson Bloodstock from the Glastonbury Farms draft at the National Weanling Sale, Mount Olympus was a $150,000 buy for McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) when consigned by Bell River Thoroughbreds to the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Tony McEvoy revealed what attracted him to the Invader colt.

“He looked a speed horse with great muscle definition and a beautiful mover. Those are the things that get me every time,” he confided.  

Mount Olympus a $150,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Mount Olympus is the third winner from five to race for the Listed Gibson Carmichael stakes winner Euryale (Lonhro), who was recently sold online for just $1,500.

Euryale is a half-sister to Group III placed Snippets mare Athena Lass, the dam of Newgate Farm’s flying Profiteer (Capitalist).

A brother to Mount Olympus fell short of his $100,000 reserve at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Mount Olympus looks the part (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Euryale has a weanling colt by Earthlight (IRE) and missed last spring.

Mount Olympus is the second 2yo winner of the season for Invader, who is riding high through the deeds of his Group 1 winning daughter, Sunshine In Paris.

The handsome son of Snitzel stands at Aquis Farm for a fee of $11,000 in 2023. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Hertz Ballarat Mdn Plate 1200m

Ballarat Synthetic Track: Synthetic(0) Time: 1:12.46
1
Mount Olympus
- 2c Invader (AUS) x Euryale (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: J Mott 58
2
7.0
Ruminate
- 2g So You Think (NZ) x Stormy Road (IRE) (Gale Force Ten (GB))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: M Aitken 58
3
7.8
Isle Of Mikkinos
- 2f Mikki Isle (JPN) x Statuette (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: H Coffey 56
4
7.9
Tahnee Baby
- 2f Star Witness (AUS) x Tahnee Topaz (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 56
5
9.4
Wish Granted
- 2f Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Realise The Dream (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: Carleen Hefel 56
6
10.7
Truth I Fear
- 2g Akeed Mofeed (GB) x Heart To Fear (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Jack Hill 58
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.