Banner Performance by I Am Invincible's Espaaniyah

Mark Smith - Saturday October 27

Mossfun and Estijaab have carried the green and white Emirates Park silks to victory in the Golden Slipper in recent years and on the strength of the win by the I Am Invincible filly Espaaniyah in Saturday's $500,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) at Moonee Valley they will have a major say in the richest juvenile race on turf in 2019.

Making her career debut, Espaaniyah did everything right, making a fast start from her inside barrier, railed like a greyhound before coming clear to defeat Biscara (Rubick) by two lengths with Salome (Unencumbered) two and three-quarter lengths back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)

Advertisement


The job was made easier for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly when True Serendipity ran off on the turn taking half the field with her.

It was the second consecutive win in the race for Waterhouse and Bott after Setsuna (Choisir) last year.

It was a real professional performance, she has come ahead in leaps and bounds since coming down to Melbourne," Bott said.

"(Emirates) are great supporters of the stable and the industry so it's great to see them get a nice filly like this. They go to the sales and pick out the quality types and she's one of them."

"He (I Am Invincible) is an incredible stallion, we've got plenty of nice types at home and we want to secure a few more going forward."

A $750,000 purchase out of the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Espaaniyah is the second foal of the Flying Spur mare Catalonia who was a Godolphin cast-off.

She was consigned as a 7-start maiden to a tried horse sale at the Magic Millions in 2013 where she was knocked down to Peter Boyce for $24,000.

Put back into work Catalonia made another 26 starts, winning twice at the Sunshine Coast but more importantly earning some valuable black-type when runner-up in a Listed race at Eagle Farm.

In 2015 Catalonia was back in the sales ring again, this time carrying a positive test to More Than Ready (USA) at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale with Tyreel Stud having the final say at $360,000 for the Willow Park Stud consigned mare.

She has proven to be an inspired choice as her More Than Ready (USA) filly foal made $625,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

A year after selling Catalonia, Godolphin parted with Catalonia's half-sister Pursuits (Lonhro) for $280,000.

Straight off the track, Pursuits had a similar profile to Catalonia.

Despite placing in the Group III Blue Diamond Preview and Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at two, Pursuits took 15 starts to break her maiden, which came at the Sunshine Coast at her penultimate start.

Now owned by Yarraman Park, Pursuits foaled a colt by I Am Invincible on August 23.

While Godolphin devested itself of Catalonia and Pursuits it has kept another half-sister, the Exceed And Excel mare Jorda.

Unlike her half-sisters, Jorda bounced straight out of the box, winning the Listed Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on debut in what was to be her only start at two.

Back in November last year, Jorda defeated I Am Excited in the Group III VRC Red Roses Stakes to add to placings in the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes and Group III Thoroughbred Club Stakes.

The trio are daughters of the stakes-placed Viscount mare Montmelo from a family that has served Woodlands and Darley well over the years.

Montmelo is a three-quarter stakes-winner to Listed winner Le Mans (Quest For Fame) and a half-sister to the Night Shift (USA) mare Suzuka whose descendants include the Group III winner Detours (Ad Valorem) and the Group III Danehill Stakes winner and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap third Aichi (Strategic).

Catalonia has a yearling colt by Pride Of Dubai but missed to I Am Invincible last spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
First to 100
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that this stallion is the first to sire 100 Australian winners this season.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
I Am Invincible's Media Sensation back with a bang at Te Rapa
Last season’s Gr1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner, Media Sensation made a successful start to her four-year-old campaign when she eased clear of race favourite Ferrando to take out the Listed Legacy Lodge Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.
$1million I Am Invincible Colt from G1 Winner Amanpour
Rosemont Stud bought Group I winning Northern Meteor mare Amanpour for $1.5million at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and got a big return on investment when selling her I Am Invincible colt for $1million during the first session of Magic Millions on Wednesday.