Invincible Sprinter Surprises in $1million G2 Premiere

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 5

Everest intrigue intensified following the running of the $1million Group II ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday with unheralded I Am Invincible gelding Airman producing a career best performance to hold off fast finishing G1 winners Mazu, Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick to score his first stakes win.

Airman scores a shock win in the G2 Premiere - image Steve Hart

Trained by Team Hawkes, Airman worked through his grades last year and showed more than a glimmer of elite ability when splitting I Am Me and Bella Nipotina in the $2million ATC Sydney Stakes on Everest Day. His subsequent runs have largely been below par and this preparation he’s been sixth at his first two runs back behind Joliestar and McHale so was hardly expected to trouble the Everest bound A listers.

But trouble them he did under a super ride from Zac Lloyd. Airman jumped swiftly and with the two horses drawn inside of him firing straight to the front he was allowed to find the fence and spend no petrol in the run.

When shown clear running after turning for home, Airman had a red hot go and it was good enough to deliver a head win in a thriller!

Advertisement

Michael Hawkes didn’t expect to be in the winner’s circle, but was happy to take the win.

“When Zac came out, obviously he’d just ridden the Flight Stakes winner, we spoke about this race and the plan about being fourth one out and as he walked away he said ‘Listen, I’ll win and he’ll get in the Everest and the rest is history.’… I didn’t believe him!” said Hawkes, who indicated connections would be open to Everest offers.

Airman added to a great day for Zac Lloyd - image Steve Hart

“I’ve always had a lot of confidence in this horse and when he won here last year, I think it Was Epsom day, he really blew them away and obviously it was a very strong field today, a secondary Everest, but he did everything right and I was more than happy to come up the fence,” said Zac Lloyd.

Airman was a $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase.

A $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Hawkes Racing from the Segenhoe Stud draft, Airman runs for a syndicate headed by Rupert Legh in whose colours he runs with his breeder Chris Barham also in the ownership.

He has the overall record of six wins and three placings from 15 starts with prizemoney of $1.3million.

Foaled, raised and sold by Segenhoe, Airman is the best of three winners from stakes-placed Fastnet Rock mare Zara Bay, a sister to Group I winner Merchant Navy, stakes-winner Setanta and Group II winner Jolie Bay, the dam of Group I winner Joliestar, who heads next to The Everest.

Zara Bay has foaled this spring producing a filly by Home Affairs that will be a three-quarter sister to Airman.

Airman is the 109th stakes-winner for reigning champion sire I Am invincible.

Advertisment

Race Result - Precise Air Premiere Stakes Gr2 1200m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.73
1
Airman
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Zara Bay (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Zac Lloyd 58.5
I Am Invincible
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $500,000
Seller: Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Scone
Buyer: Hawkes Racing
2
0.2
Mazu
- 6g Maurice (JPN) x Chatelaine (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: N Rawiller 58.5
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $180,000
Seller: Parsons Creek Pastoral Co, Milbrodale
Buyer: Triple Crown Syndications
3
0.3
Bella Nipotina
- 7m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Bella Orfana (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
Pride Of Dubai
Inglis Chairman's Sale $4,200,000
Seller: Ciaron Maher Racing, Melbourne, Vic
Buyer: Longwood Thoroughbred Farm Pty Ltd
Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 $80,000
Seller: Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre
Buyer: Lindsay Park Racing / Andrew Williams Bloodstock / Mt Hallowell Stud
4
1
Giga Kick
- 5g Scissor Kick (AUS) x Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause (GB))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
5
1.3
Coal Crusher
- 7g Turffontein (AUS) x Media Academy (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J Parr 58.5
6
2.5
Think About It
- 6g So You Think (NZ) x Tiare (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J R Collett 58.5
7
3.7
Bandi's Boy
- 5g The Brothers War (USA) x Tibidabo (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: D A Williams Rdr: J Ford 58.5
More Reading...
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
One to Watch Wins Again!
It might be winter and all eyes may have been on Royal Ascot this week, but there was a winner at Flemington on Saturday that will have caught the eye of anyone with half an interest towards spring racing and emerging talent.
Three on the Trot for Zousain 3YO
The Paul Shailer stable has been flying over the winter carnival and one of the stable stars has been Zousain gelding Mister Bianco, who made it three wins in succession when taking out the $150,000 Schweppes TL Cooney (1350m) at Ipswich on Saturday.
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Royal Ascot Day 5 – Runaway, Rising Empire and My Best Friend
After five spectacular days of racing, Royal Ascot is over with the finale overnight producing high drama with a runaway G1 winner, the rise of a racing empire and the first stakes horse for St Mark’s Basilica.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.