One to Watch – Hawkesbury

Champion sire Exceed and Excel had a couple of well-bred fillies in the juvenile maiden at Hawkesbury on Tuesday, but while his expensive one failed to fire, the other won like a filly going places with a shot at Black Type looming on the horizon.

A homebred for Geoff and Mary Grimish that passed in shy of her $600,000 reserve at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Invictus Salute showed good ability in her first two trials before finishing unplaced to subsequent Group II winner Pure Elation in a maiden at Warwick Farm last month.

Fitted with blinkers by her trainer Mark Newnham, she was a different horse at Hawkesbury jumping fast to go forward and find the fence before dashing away to win the 1100 metre scamper as she pleased.

Newnham indicated after the race he’ll now be looking at the Black Type fillies race at Scone for her next month.

Invictus Salute is a half-sister to stakes-placed filly Acqume, who made $750,000 at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale last Wednesday when bought by Aquis Farm.

Foaled and raised at Kitchwin Hills, she is the second winner for Group II placed Acquired, a half-sister by O’Reilly to Group II winner Hips Don’t Lie, the dam of smart stakes-winning fillies Ennis Hill and Lake Geneva.