The richest race in Australia on Saturday was the $1million Group III ATC Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick, which is seen as a starting point for Everest contenders and victory this year went to brilliant I Am Invincible mare I Am Me, who held off a determined charge from the mighty Bella Nipotina.
Both mares are trained by Ciaron Maher and both turned in fantastic runs with I Am Me favoured by an inside draw and her impeccable first up record.
Given a cosy run in transit by Nash Rawiller she hit the front with 50m to run thanks to a sizzling change of gear and then had just enough to hold off her stablemate to win by a neck with the time for the 1000m a slick 55.97 seconds with the final 600m in 32.5 seconds.
2022 Everest winner Giga Kick was an encouraging fifth at his first run following a lengthy spell due to injury.
A Dynamic Syndications colour bearer, I Am Me has been a slow burn horse for Ciaron Maher, nurtured quietly through the early stages of her career which started with a maiden win at Canberra and a Class 1 at Ballarat in early 2022.
She has improved with every year that has passed and now boasts the overall record of 10 wins and five placings from 22 starts with prizemoney topping $3.1million.
"Bella Nipotina, the Everest will definitely be the target. I Am Me, we probably have to consider it now," said Johann Gerard-Dubord, representing the Maher stable.
"She has come a long way and she has improved every prep.
"She loves these conditions, these fast tracks and she has got a very good record first-up. The gate helped and it was a very good ride from Nash (Rawiller)."
Rawiller was full of praise for I Am Me, who had a frustrating autumn with three starts in Group I races that produced a third and two fourth placings.
"She was amazing, wasn't she? I was surprised, because I really dove through that gap, came off Way To The Stars' back, and as soon as I produced her, I thought, I'm in trouble, because, you know, obviously, Bella Nipotina was coming," Rawiller said.
"I thought she'd out-tough me, but I loved the character of my horse. She picked up and really just wasn't going to lay down."
A $210,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Segenhoe draft for Dynamic Syndications / Dean Watt Bloodstock, I Am Me was bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and was raised and grazed as a foal at Coolmore.
She is the first winner from Mefnooda, a metro winning half-sister by Medaglia D’Oro (USA) to Group III winning filly One Last Dance and daughter of Group IIII winner One World.
Mefnooda was bought by Cambridge Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $450,000 and produced a filly last spring by Too Darn Hot (GB) and was then covered by Satono Aladdin (Jpn).
I Am Me is the first stakes-winner of the new season for Yarraman Park’s reigning champion sire I Am Invincible.
