One to Watch – Sandown

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday August 7

A $260,000 I Am Invincible colt would be considered ‘a cheapie’ in the context of a stallion whose progeny routinely sell for $1million and more, but the debut victory of this fellow would suggest ability is certainly not lacking.

Daggers bolts in at Sandown - image Pat Scala/ Racing Photos

Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Daggers was a class above when making his debut in a 1300m three year-old maiden at Sandown on Wednesday, dropping his rivals cold to win by four lengths under Luke Currie.

Advertisement

Busuttin has been patient with Daggers, who has taken time to put it altogether and is a half-brother to the stable’s classy Group III winning stayer Muramasa.

"I'm certainly happy when they win like that," Busuttin said.

"We liked the horse early days, but he hasn't quite been as sharp in his jumpouts as what he has in our trackwork, so we were second guessing ourselves a little but his last couple of pieces of work have been good.

"He knows he's a colt like Muramasa did and he ended up a gelding, so hopefully this bloke doesn't.

"We'll take the next step and see where he ends up."

Daggers is a very good looking colt - image Pat Scala/ Racing Photos

Bred by Arrowfield in partnership with GSA Bloodstock, Daggers was purchased from Inglis Easter by Busuttin Racing and is the second winner from Group II winning High Chaparral (IRE) mare Omei Sword, a daughter of Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights, the dam of Northern Hemisphere bred stakes-winners Lipizzaner and Just Steel.

Arrowfield sold a Snitzel yearling colt from Omei Sword  at Inglis Easter this year for $875,000 to Rosemont Stud / Chris Waller Racing / Suman Hedge Bloodstock and she is back in foal to Snitzel after missing in 2022.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Mdn Plate 1300m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:18.16
1
Daggers
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Omei Sword (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: L Currie 58
2
4.3
Athanatos
- 3g I Am Immortal (AUS) x Mumbeilly (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
3
5.5
Honey Maker
- 3f Impending (AUS) x Hot Honey (AUS) (Starspangledbanner (AUS))
Tnr: R E Laing Rdr: Patrick Moloney 56
4
6.5
Hurricane Georgie
- 3f Toronado (IRE) x Edwina Georgie (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
5
7
Bourne Identity
- 3c Pierro (AUS) x Symi (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: B Rawiller 58
6
9.2
Zouslayer
- 3g Zousain (AUS) x Mapili (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 58
7
10.2
Entrusting
- 3c The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Believe Yourself (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 58
8
12.2
Legacy Bel
- 3f Bel Esprit (AUS) x Clandon (AUS) (Brief Truce (USA))
Tnr: R W Harrison Rdr: Celine Gaudray 56
9
12.6
Carrick
- 3g Shamus Award (AUS) x Il Sogno (AUS) (Elvstroem (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 58
10
13
Scary
- 3c Shocking (AUS) x Never Ever (NZ) (Reliable Man (GB))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: W Egan 58
11
14
Stolen Kiss
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Take Heart (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Zac Spain 56
12
14.1
Gigantor
- 3f Reward For Effort (AUS) x Vasori (AUS) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: M Krikas Rdr: Carleen Hefel 56
13
26.1
Here I Come
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x O'reilly Rose (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: John Allen 58
More Reading...
Private Eye Half-Brother King's Secret Records First Stakes Win
While he may forever race in the shadow of his half-brother and $12.8m earner Private Eye, the Joe Pride trained Shalaa gelding King’s Secret stepped up to black type racing for the first time in his career, winning the Listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m) on New Year’s day.
Sires With Winners - Thursday January 1
Here is the full list of 88 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New SW for Zoustar to Kick off 2026
The leading sire by worldwide winners in 2025, Widden Stud’s flagship sire Zoustar kicked off on New Year’s Day with a brand new stakes-winner when Queen Zou captured the Group II Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie and her full sister is headed to Inglis Premier.
Ange Jones Wins G3 on Santa Catalina
It may not have been on the horse she crossed the Tasman for, but premiership-winning Queensland hoop Angela Jones got her Group victory at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
Australia's Best Maiden Gains $3million Sunlight Slot
Yarraman-bred and -raced filly Sylph will carry the green and white of Yulong in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight on Saturday, 10 January.
New SW Ocean Park - Ohope Wins Takes G2 Sir Patrick Hogan
Closely related to NZ Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux, promising staying filly Ohope Wins chose the best possible moment to break her maiden status when she powered home to take out the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.
Dracarys Stakes-Winner in Hong Kong
Queensland based Snitzel stallion Dracarys sired his second stakes-winner on New Year’s Day when talented gelding Storm Rider won the Group III Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin.
Daggers Remains Unbeaten and Heads to Sydney
Promising colt Daggers earned a trip to Sydney for the Group II Run To The Rose at Rosehill on September 14 after keeping his record at a perfect two for two when going coast to coast in the Brooks Running AU Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
G2 Quinella for Home Affairs
Home Affairs posted his first stakes-winner on New Year's Day and for good measure made it a quinella with his two strapping bay youngsters Kinnaird and Harvey Wallbanger fighting out the finish of the Group II Skycity Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in New Zealand.
Historic Perth Cup Win for Apulia - Special Day for Hayes Dynasty
If you love racing, there are few better ways to kick off a New Year than to be amidst a big and happy Ascot crowd on a summery Perth afternoon, watching the field go down to the start for The Cup!.