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
2
0.2
Mazu
- 6g Maurice (JPN) x Chatelaine (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: N Rawiller 58.5
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
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...
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.