Kitri Keeps the Ball Rolling for Invader

Mark Smith - Saturday July 22

Aquis Farm's Invader has unearthed several promising two-year-olds towards the back end of the season, and Kitri kept the roll rolling when storming to victory over 1200m at Doomben on Saturday.

Ridden by Cejay Graham for Michael Nolan, Kitri had just one of the nine runners behind her on the turn.

Eased out to the centre of the track, the daughter of Invader unleashed a withering finish to defeat the Kiss and Makeup filly Bernice's Spirit by a short-neck with the Kobayashi filly Surreal Ascot a long-head back in third.

Kitri made a winning debut at Toowoomba in June before a solid third in the Bruce McLachlan Classic at the Gold Coast three weeks later. She had no luck when unplaced over 1200m at Eagle farm on July 15 when caught wide the trip.

Michael Nolan said the addition of blinkers helped the cause.

"She had no luck the other day when she was posted wide but was tough to the end," Nolan said.

'I thought this race was worth a throw of the dice. I threw the blinkers on, which you do sometimes when you are a bit desperate, but they did the trick today.

Advertisement

"She is a lovely well-developed filly. I've only had one Invader, and that's her.

"Her couple of runs since winning at Toowoomba have been good. We weren't brimming with confidence today, but I thought that if she got a crack at them, she would be in the finish."

Kitri is making a mockery of her $4,000 purchase at the 2021 Inglis December Online Sale

With $72,000 already in the bank, Kitri has proven to be a bargain basement purchase for owner Aaron Sothmann, who made the winning bid of $4,000 when Canning Downs offered the daughter of Invader at the 2021 Inglis December Online Sale.  

She is the first winner from two to race for the winning Wanted mare Tutu, a granddaughter of the Listed AJC James HB Carr Stakes winner Royal Mask (Royal Academy).

Tutu was retired after foaling Kitri.

Invader stands at Aquis Farm in 2023 for a fee of $11,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Racecourse Village Hcp 1200m

Doomben Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.85
1
Kitri
- 2f Invader (AUS) x Tutu (AUS) (Wanted (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Nolan Rdr: Cejay Graham 55
2
0.2
Bernice's Spirit
- 2f Kiss And Make Up (AUS) x Moet Miss (AUS) (Uncle Mo (USA))
Tnr: B J Lockwood Rdr: S Cormack 55.5
3
0.4
Surreal Ascot
- 2f Kobayashi (AUS) x Dream Of Ascot (AUS) (Exceedingly Good (AUS))
Tnr: A & T Sweeney Rdr: Angela Jones 53.5
4
0.6
Star Act
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Look To The Stars (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 57
5
1.2
Mighty
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Great Dansaar (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: James Orman 58
6
1.7
Five Star Vixen
- 2f Headwater (AUS) x Wall Street Vixen (AUS) (Manhattan Rain (AUS))
Tnr: Jay Bellamy Rdr: Damien Thornton 56.5
7
1.9
Crimson Warning
- 2f Defcon (AUS) x I Like Red (AUS) (Red Dazzler (AUS))
Tnr: Nicholas Beck Rdr: M R Du Plessis 58
8
2.1
Rich Minx
- 2f Rich Enuff (AUS) x Capetown Hussey (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Boris Thornton 56
9
4.5
Thredbo
- 2f Wicked Intent (AUS) x Samui Beauty (AUS) (Street Hero (USA))
Tnr: S Jokic Rdr: Melea Castle 51
More Reading...
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.