One to Watch – Werribee

Tara Madgwick - Sunday February 18

There is tremendous anticipation building ahead of the 2024 Group I ATC Surround Stakes in two weeks time and the winner in 2018 was blueblood Fastnet Rock filly Shoals, who produced her first winner at Werribee on Sunday.

Isthmus wins by daylight - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, three year-old I Am Invincible filly Isthmus was having her first run back from a lengthy spell having placed in two of her three previous starts last year.

She was sent out a short priced favourite for the 1100m maiden and showed a glimpse of her potential when strolling clear to win by four lengths.

Retained to race by her breeders Arrowfield Stud and Jonathan Munz, Isthmus is the first foal of triple Group I winner Shoals, whose second foal is a Written Tycoon colt that was sold by Arrowfield at Inglis Easter last year for $1million Aramco Racing / Yulong Investment / Mick Kent.

He has been named Chelsea and is in work with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.

Advertisement

Shoals has two more fillies to follow by I Am Invincible and Maurice (Jpn) and was covered again last spring by I Am Invincible.

Shoals is a sister to stakes-winner Groundswell and claims blue hen Shantha’s Choice as her grand-dam so it’s the family of Group I winners Redoute’s Choice, Platinum Scissors and Manhattan Rain with exciting Zoustar colt Schwarz an exciting up and comer for this amazing dynasty.

The list of yearlings in upcoming sales from this family is long and fascinating, click here to see them all with Breednet Family Search.

Advertisment

Race Result - Corio Waste Management Mdn Plate 1100m

Werribee Track: Good(4) Time: 1:04.46
1
Isthmus
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Shoals (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: L Currie 57
2
4
Cyclone Cara
- 4m Caravaggio (USA) x Charlie's Storm (AUS) (Myboycharlie (IRE))
Tnr: Luke Oliver Rdr: T Ladd 57.5
3
5
Keepmeinthelope
- 3g Lope De Vega (IRE) x You Only You (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: John Allen 59
4
6.8
Exposay
- 4g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Disturbingthepeace (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jarrod Fry 59.5
5
9.3
Russian Escape
- 3g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Not To Be Caught (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: Ms L J Meech 59
6
9.5
Fly Girl
- 3f Spieth (NZ) x Fatz (AUS) (Court Command (AUS))
Tnr: Ms R Waymouth Rdr: Lauren Burke 54
7
10.7
Casa Helena
- 3f Lope De Vega (IRE) x Unusual Dream (IRE) (Dream Ahead (USA))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 57
8
11
Rebillyous
- 4g Rebel Dane (AUS) x Majnoonah (AUS) (Hennessy (USA))
Tnr: Luke Oliver Rdr: D Moor 59.5
9
12.5
Forever Owing
- 6m Redente (AUS) x Road To Fatima (AUS) (Keep The Faith (AUS))
Tnr: Tony Romeo Rdr: Tom Prebble 55.5
10
15.3
Naval Bay
- 3g Cable Bay (IRE) x Stratum Magic (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Loos Rdr: Melissa Julius 59
11
17.5
Jim Bob
- 8g Via Corone (AUS) x My Perdita (AUS) (Belong To Me (USA))
Tnr: M A Burnell Rdr: Logan Bates 56.5
12
20.8
Leprechaun Lass
- 4m Magnus (AUS) x Lisa In Green (AUS) (Equiano (FR))
Tnr: S G Noble Rdr: Samantha Noble 57.5
13
27.8
All About Stardom
- 4m Tosen Stardom (JPN) x All About Rhythm (AUS) (Kaphero (AUS))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: R J Hurdle 57.5
More Reading...
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
One to Watch – Ballarat
A five length debut winner for Farnan was always going to be an easy choice as One to Watch on Thursday at Ballarat.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 20
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 WATC Railway Stakes
A capacity Railway field will line up for the first G1 of the Pinnacles Carnival of 2025 and as usual it's a cracker, with 16 runners (4 emergencies) engaged for Ascot's famous feature mile!
G1 Railway Stakes - History, Champions and Why We Should All Be Grateful to the Horse
It's Perth's turn to bask in the national sporting spotlight as The Ashes gets underway and the first G1 of the Pinnacles Carnival is run at Ascot - the famous WATC Railway Stakes!
Racing Reform Group NSW Seeking Change to Thoroughbred Review
A new organisation dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of the NSW Thoroughbred industry has been established featuring a number of prominent participants.
UK Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
Widden Stud’s reigning champion sire Zoustar featured overnight with a new stakes-winner when progressive four year-old mare Sky Safari landed the Listed Fleur de Lys Stakes (1m) at Lingfield.
Dates Confirmed for 2026 NZB National Online Yearling Sale
The dates for NZB’s National Online Yearling Sale have been confirmed for 2026, with the Sale set to be held on leading online auction platform Gavelhouse Plus. 
Australian Impact on Best in Europe
At the annual Cartier European Horse Of The Year Awards ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel, globetrotting Victorian bred mare Asfoora was awarded the honour of becoming Champion Sprinter for 2025, while Aussie bred sire Starspangledbanner produced both the Champion 2YO Colt and Filly of the year.
Record Breaking Goffs November Foal Sale Concludes
A record renewal of the Goffs November Foal Sale drew to a close today, with a vibrant final session that maintained the strong demand seen throughout the week. The sale returned the highest ever turnover for the November Foals, while the clearance rate rose to 82% across the four days.