Prevented from travelling south earlier in the week due to fog in Christchurch,
the Peter and Dawn Williams trained three-year-old only arrived at Riccarton on
Friday courtesy of a special charter flight.That disruption may have unnerved some lesser individuals, however the I Am Invincible filly never turned a hair as she dominated her rivals from on the pace, courtesy of a special ride from Michael Coleman.
The experienced horseman had his mount travelling sweetly beside pacemaker Wekaforce throughout before driving clear in the home straight to hold out the fast finishing Valalie and race favourite Xpression.
"She got the bounce right today and went forward to where there was no pressure outside the leader," Coleman said.
"She travelled beautifully although I may have gone a bit soon as I didn't want to be caught napping if something really decided to sprint around us.
"She's a quality filly and it's great to be riding a Group One winner for Peter and Dawn."
Co-trainer Peter Williams admitted he had a fleeting moment of panic prior to the race when eventual runner-up, Valalie, got down in the stall next to Media Sensation and had to be extricated by the barrier attendants before being passed fit to race.
"I was a wee bit worried when they were going to scratch that horse," he said.
"I couldn't see as she was out the back and I just hoped she wasn't being naughty in the gates.
"She's raced good today and I'm very happy as he rode her perfectly."
Williams paid tribute to owners Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer of Barneswood Farm, who had outlaid $425,000 for Media Sensation from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sales.
"They are great owners," he said.
"They spend the money so they deserve to get some money."
A winner of five of her six starts, Media Sensation is the sixth Group I winner for I Am Invincible and is the first winner for Different To, a half-sister by High Chaparral (IRE) to Group I winner Dorabella and stakes-winner Crusoe.
I Am Invincible also added a fourth juvenile stakes-winner this season when Steal My Kisses took out the Listed MRC Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown.
Jumping the best from an outside barrier for Damien Oliver, the Mick Price
trained filly made every post a winner to defeat Memphis Rock by three-quarters
of a length with a further length and a quarter back to the fast-finishing
First Dawn who claimed the bragging rights as the first stakes horse for her
sire Brazen Beau, the first son of I Am Invincible to go to stud.It was an impressive career debut for Steal My Kisses who looked the consummate professional to quicken off a solid place to put the race to bed at the 250-metre mark.
"She showed speed and stamina. We weren't sure how to ride from (barrier) 11 of 11. For a first starter you never know, I thought it was a disadvantage out there, but Olly just found his own way," said Mick Price.
"We will put her out now and set her for the Blue Diamond and those autumn two-year-old races. She's done a good job this prep. She didn't go through sales, she was unraced before today and has done a good job, we will put her out while the weather is good and we will have a nice autumn filly."
A homebred for Bill Frost, Steal My Kisses is the third live foal of The Fairy's Kiss, who won just one race, a maiden at Seymour but was runner-up in four of her nine starts including the Group III Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Caulfield. She is a daughter of Frosts's multiple Group II winner Ballet Society, who placed in the Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas.
Steal My Kisses becomes the 39th stakes-winner, and the fourth 2yo stakes-winner in the first few months of the season for I Am Invincible, who has opened up a lead on the Australian 2YO Sires List.
Rounding out a great day at the office for I Am Invincible was his talented six year-old gelding Most Important, who resumed from a spell to win the Listed BRC Keith Noud Quality at Doomben from another smart I Am Invincible in Victorem.
The Tony Gollan trained gelding has won 10 races and placed a further 10 times from 39 starts earning over $950,000 for his lucky owners Graham and Linda Huddy of Peachester Lodge.
Most Important was a $260,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Yarraman Park draft and was bred by Yarraman Park and partners. Most Important is the best of six winners for Orange Marmalade (NZ), a half-sister by Stravinsky (USA) to Group III winner Just a Dream from Group III winner Majestic Angel.
Yarraman Park will offer the current yearling from Orange Marmalade, a colt by I Am Invincible's brilliant first crop son Super One as Lot 880.
