Invincible Filly Wins Maribyrnong Plate

Tara Madgwick - Thursday November 8
The Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Oaks Day is for two year-old colts, geldings and fillies with the girls showing their superiority after blue-blooded fillies Vinicunca and Art Collection forged clear from their rivals to fight out the finish.



Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, I Am Invincible filly Vinicunca had not trialled officially, but handled the straight like a professional to race on the pace and maintain a nose margin over Art Collection, the half-sister by Fastnet Rock to Australian Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee.

Vinicunca - images Grant CourtneyVinicunca was partnered by international rider Wayne Lordan who rode Rostropovich into fifth place in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday for Coolmore.

"Tom Magnier asked me to ride her and Mrs Waterhouse said whatever she did today she would improve on, so she's a nice filly going forward," said Lordan.

A $600,000 Inglis Easter purchase for BBA Ireland / T Magnier / Flaxland Ireland from the Attunga Stud draft, Vinicunca runs for Coolmore, the Niarchos family's Flaxman Stables and Lindsay Maxted.

"She's beautifully bred and very talented, an exciting filly. When she was challenged she dug deep," said Adrian Bott, who was glowing his praise for her sire I Am Invincible.

"They are sharp early types that train on. Fantastic horses to have in the stable."

Vinicunca as a yearlingThe 38th stakes-winner for Yarrama Park's superstar sire I Am Invincible, Vinicunca is the second winner from Xandretta, a winning Flying Spur half-sister to Group I AJC Champagne Stakes winner Carry on Cutie, the grand-dam of another Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner in The Mission.

Xandretta has no yearling, but has foaled this spring producing a filly by Golden Slipper winner Capitalist.

I Am Invincible has made a fast start to the season with his two year-olds siring three winners to date all of them stakes-winners with Vinicunca joining Espaaniyah and Catch Me.



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