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.

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"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.

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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
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