Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
While we need to go back to the 2011 victory of Sepoy (Elusive Quality) to see the last 3yo win the Danehill Stakes enroute to success in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, it will be interesting to see how the form of Saturday’s race holds up, as many previous Coolmore winners have had their final lead up race in Sydney.
Jumping from barrier 7, jockey Damian Lane dropped McGaw to the back of the field before pulling around the heels of those to his outside, so he had clear running closest to the outside running rail.
With Shinning Smile (Spirit Of Boom) leading down the middle of the track, Lane was content to have McGaw out on his own with the grey filly My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) tracking him.
Jamie Mott pulled My Gladiola off the heels of McGaw to make her run, while at the same time Godolphin’s Group 2 Todman Stakes winner Tentyris (Street Boss) was also commencing his run after getting some early cover in the middle of the pack.
At one stage it appears as if there was about six chances as many of the runners stretched across the track, and while Tentyris momentarily had his head in front, McGaw and My Gladiola extended down the outside of the field to battle it out.
In a somewhat surprising result, McGaw took the prize by a short half head from My Gladiola, with Tentyris back in third, beaten a length and a half by the winner.
Having shown stakes ability ability two starts prior when splitting Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) and Jimmy Recard (I Am Invincible) in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes, the gelding was then beaten two and a half lengths behind Legacy Bound (Ole Kirk) in the Listed Poseidon Stakes, but with a Flemington jumpout last week under his belt, he came to Flemington on Saturday and trounced all of those runners.
Listed McKenzie Stakes winner Rosberg (Deep Field) jumped the favourite in the nine-horse field, but the colt never made any impact after settling last. Connections revealing post-race that he pulled up shin sore and will now be spelled.
“I think (the jump out) helped a lot and we learnt a bit about him last time. We had to let him go with them and let a fast horse be fast,” said co-trained David Browne
“I thought we were going to be a bit vulnerable a bit late there but he ran it out well.
“He likes to get into a dog fight and if he can get into one he’ll finish strong.
“All our horses have been running well but not getting across the line with their noses in front so it was very rewarding to do it today.
“This time of year there’s such good horses there. That was a good field today. To be amongst them was good.”
As for lining up in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, connections will see what is best for the horse.
“We’ll let the dust settle. He’s a gelding so there are plenty of options. We’ll do what is best for the horse.”
Having ridden McGaw in all his five starts, jockey Damian lane understand the gelding quite well.
“He was super,” said Lane. “Obviously a talented horse and a bit of a big goof.”
“He doesn’t make things easy for you at time. I tried to sit him in behind last start but it didn’t work for him. He got his head up and wanted to charge.
“Slow away today and I wanted him to get into stride and find his feet. He was really strong when it counted and he beat some quality horses.
“Even more importantly, when he was on his own he pricked his ears and started to travel kinder. We’ve always said he’s doing it on raw ability and he’ll get better but I think that is just him.
“He’s just a bit of a goof and he’s obviously got good talent as well so hopefully he’s been better down the straight. He’s been here three times - two trials one run - so hopefully even better for his next run.”
With three wins and a second from just five starts including a win in the $1m VOBIS Platinum Showdown in March, Saturday’s win took his career earnings to $835,720, a significant return on the $14,000 investment made to secure him from the Inglis Premier yearling sale draft of Stonehouse Thoroughbreds.
Bred by Havaparty Investments Pty Ltd, Vic, McGaw is the third winner, and first at black type level from four to the races out of the Listed winning Librettist mare Niki Piki Milo who comes from the extended family of Pride Of Dubai and Invincible Spirit.
Niki Piki Milo has an unraced, 2yo full-sister to McGaw, followed by a yearling filly by Supido and is due to foal this season to I Am Immortal once again.
McGaw is the second stakes-winner by Swettenham Stud’s I Am Immortal, with the stakes-winning son of I Am Invincible standing at a fee of $8,800 (inc. GST) this season.
