McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win

Dane Squance - Sunday October 5

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.

McGaw Gets The Better of My Gladiola To Win The G2 Danehill Stakes - Image Grant Courtney

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.

Advertisement

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.”

Will McGaw Head To The G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes - Time Will Tell - Image Grant Courtney

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.

McGaw's Sire I Am Immortal Stands For $8,800 (inc. GST) at Swettenham Stud

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.

Advertisment

Race Result - Danehill Stakes Gr2 1100m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:02.63
1
Mcgaw
- 3g I Am Immortal (AUS) x Niki Piki Milo (NZ) (Librettist (USA))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: Damian Lane 57
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $14,000
Seller: Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, Eddington
Buyer: Sparta Racing Pty Ltd
2
0.1
My Gladiola
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Villa Verde (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: J Mott 56.5
I Am Invincible
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $550,000
Seller: Kia Ora Stud, Scone
Buyer: Redgum Racing Pty Ltd
3
1.6
Tentyris
- 3c Street Boss (USA) x Deity (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
4
1.9
Legacy Bound
- 3g Ole Kirk (AUS) x Sanaya (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R D Griffiths Rdr: Jye McNeil 58.5
5
2.9
Tycoon Star
- 3c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Miss Iano (AUS) (Equiano (FR))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 58.5
6
3.3
Jimmy Recard
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Aquamosa (NZ) (Alamosa (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Jamie Melham 58.5
7
3.6
Inkaruna
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Ravi (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
8
4.9
Shining Smile
- 3c Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Nataya Rose (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
9
10.9
Rosberg
- 3c Deep Field (AUS) x Sheer Pleasure (USA) (Birdonthewire (USA))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: B Melham 58
More Reading...
Deserving G2 Fillies Classic Success For Tagaloa's Salty Pearl
After a solid run in black type races, the connections of the Ciaron Maher trained Tagaloa filly Salty Pearl were rewarded for her consistency, backing up from a solid fourth in last Saturday's Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas to claim the $300,000 Group 2 MVRC Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
VRC Derby Favourite Strengthens His Chances With G2 Vase Win
When breaking his maiden by five lengths at just his second start last season, Ghaiyyath's colt Observer looked to have above average ability, but it was his third last start in the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) that had everybody talking about the exciting prospect.
New SW Savabeel- Sir Albert wins Listed Spring Classic
Classy gelding Sir Albert starred in the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday in another winning double for Terri Rae, but the local trainer was only a nose and a neck away from an even more remarkable day.
Von Hauke Wins G2 Crystal Mile - Half-Brother NZB Ready to Run
The Cliff Brown-trained Von Hauke swamped his rivals late under a patient rider from Ethan Brown to land the Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Blueblood Lonhro Colt Wins G1 Spring Champion
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate dreamers’ and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who capped his meteoric rise to fame with a thrilling victory in the $2million Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
G2 McEwen Stakes To Jigsaw - Fifth Black Type Victory
A previous Group 2 winner at Moonee Valley a few years back, Jigsaw’s connections would’ve headed into Saturday’s Group 2 MVRC McEwen Stakes (1200m) with a level of confidence despite tackling last start Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes winner Charm Stone.
Invincible Colt Wins $1million G2 Callander Presnell for Godolphin
Progressive I Am Invincible colt Ohope won the $1million ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) at his previous start, however was not rewarded officially with Black Type for that result, but he did achieve stakes-winner status at Randwick on Saturday when scoring a determined win over quality colt Rivellino in the $1million ATC Callander Presnell (1600m).
$14,000 Long Legged Dork Wins $1mil Showdown
The trainer liked his long legs so paid $14,000 for McGaw who went two for two in the $1million TBV VOBIS Platinum Showdown (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
2025 Cox Plate Result - Fastnet Rock and Waller Quinella
A genuine champion sire should be able to produce the horses that win the very best races in the country in which they stand and the late great Fastnet Rock have us a demonstration of that when his high class Northern Hemisphere bred offspring Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) fought out an epic finish to the $6million Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Lindermann Cracks $4million in Earnings
Gelded after losing form following his tenacious victory in the 2023 Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas, the Chris Waller trained Lindemann has embraced life as a gelding and has been on fire this spring racking up a series of lucrative wins including the $750,000 Group III ATC Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.