One To Watch - Gatton

Mark Smith - Thursday June 20

Beaten less than a length when third on debut at Ipswich on May 30, the 3-year-old I Am Invincible gelding Levar looked like a different horse when romping home in an 860m maiden at Gatton on Thursday.

Ridden by Emily Lang for Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted, Levar took advantage of an inside barrier following a sluggish start to push through and take up the running.

He had the field off the bit chasing rounding the home turn and kept increasing his margin to defeat the Headwater filly Demes Girl by five lengths.

Levar was a $150,000 buy for Proven Thoroughbreds from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Good buying for a son of I Am Invincible, even more so considering he is out of the outstanding Dubawi mare, Shamal Wind, whose five stakes wins were highlighted by the Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate.

Following her Oakleigh Plate triumph, Shamal Wind travelled to Royal Ascot for the King Stand Stakes, where she was never a factor behind Goldream.

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Covered by Sea The Stars to Southern Hemisphere time, Shamal Wind foaled a colt that was a $325,000 purchase for Godolphin at the 2018 Magic Millions.

The same year, Shamal Wind sold to Baramul Stud for $1,200,000 at the National Broodmare Sale.

Despite visiting the most commercial stallions, Shamal Wind's four foals to sell as yearlings struggled to make the sire's service fee. But they all raced and won.

Shamal Wind died in 2020, and Lamar is her final foal. Her lone filly Laroupe (Fastnet Rock), was retained by Gerry Harvey. She won two, placed in two of her ten starts, and visited Toronado (IRE) in her first season. 

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Race Result - Gatton Meat Centre Mdn Plate 860m

Gatton Track: Good(4) Time: 0:49.24
1
Levar
- 3g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Shamal Wind (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Emily Lang 58
2
5
Demes Girl
- 3f Headwater (AUS) x Demeanour (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Neil Hocking Rdr: Justin P Stanley 56
3
6.5
Oakfield Panther
- 4g Epaulette (AUS) x Oakfield Comet (AUS) (Honours List (IRE))
Tnr: Stephanie Sixtus Rdr: Zac Sprie 55.5
4
6.9
Best Coffee
- 2g Xtravagant (NZ) x Arc (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: James Moore Rdr: Tahlia Fenlon 56.5
5
7.9
Ending Sweet
- 2f Lonhro (AUS) x Leone Chiara (AUS) (Lion Hunter (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Angela Jones 54.5
6
8.9
Dinosphere
- 4g Exosphere (AUS) x Extinction (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Belinda Mair Rdr: N Thomas 58.5
7
9.3
Swerves
- 3f Sidestep (AUS) x Prefer (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: M A Palmer Rdr: Colleen Krahnen 53
8
11.8
Zesty Boy
- 6g Pentire (GB) x Belle Joie (NZ) (Mellifont (USA))
Tnr: Grant Forge Rdr: N Tomizawa 58.5
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