Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday May 16

Coming off debut win in a midweek at Canterbury, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained California Zimbol shapes as a favourites chance in Saturday’s Listed Bill Carter Stakes (1200m) for two-year-old fillies at Doomben on Saturday despite drawing barrier 18.

The strapping daughter of I Am Invincible defeated some richly pedigreed fillies with authority at her career debut on May 8. She showed plenty of gate speed and despite over-racing hit the line strongly.

Purchased by Asian Bloodstock Services for $450,000 out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, California Zimbol is a half-sister to the Listed MRC Alinghi Stakes winner From Within (Not A Single Doubt) and Listed MVRC Listed St Albans Stakes winner Cruden Bay (Not A Single Doubt).

Bred by Harry Mitchell and Michael Freedman, California Zimbol is out of the Anabaa (USA) mare Zimaretto, a half-sister to the Group II Surround Stakes runner-up Lady Cay (Marscay) whose imported dam Borely (GB) (Reprimand) is a granddaughter of Effervescence II (Charlottesville), a half-sister to the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) and Prix d'Ispahan winner Zeddaan (Grey Sovereign).

Best known in this part of the world as the sire of the one season phenomenon Adraan (GB), Zeddaan also produced the influential stallion Kalamoun, who kept the line going through Jeune’s sire Kalaglow, and Kenmare (FR) who remains an influence in both hemispheres.

Advertisement

I Am Invincible is having another incredible season. He recently set a new mark for individual stakes-winners and his babies have played their part.

With seven individual 2yo stakes-winners, I Am Invincible is on track for his first Champion 2yo Sire Title but his arch nemesis Snitzel is just over $100,000 in arrears and the high profile pair look set to take the title down to the final few weeks of the season.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 Bloodstockauction Charity Auction Live
The 2025 Bloodstock Auction stallion cover charity auction opened on Friday night and closes on Tuesday July 15. The event supports Ronald McDonald House.
First to 100
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that this stallion is the first to sire 100 Australian winners this season.
Lonhro Sireline Delivers Oaks Queen Fancy Red
Lonhro son Sessions is riding a hot streak with two stakes winners in eight days after his three year-old filly Fancy Red lit up a gloomy day at Bunbury with an outstanding last to first victory to win the Listed Belmont Oaks (2019m) going away.
$1,050,000 Colt for I Am Invincible
Tipped as one of the stars on day one at Magic Millions, the I Am Invincible colt from Group II winning Zabeel mare Adrift duly set the sale ring alight when selling for $1,050,00 with Guy Mulcaster signing the docket in conjunction with Waller Racing.
Invincible Colt on Target for Blue Diamond
The open juvenile event at Randwick on Saturday always looked good on paper with some highly rated fillies and two expensive colts engaged and at the winning post it was I Am Invincible’s Rulership that claimed the victory and he did it in style!
Oh Diamond Lil Dazzles at Randwick
Progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil stepped up to 1600m for the first time this preparation at Randwick on Saturday and it proved very much to her liking as she scored a bold front running win in the Benchmark 78 event.
Champion Honours To Voyage Bubble At Hong Kong Awards
Held on Friday night in the Grand Ballroom of the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong, Torryburn Stud’s home bred Champion Voyage Bubble secured two awards at the prestigious Hong Kong Horse of the Year Awards for the 2024/25 racing season.
Flying Artie 4YO Honoured as Most Improved at HK Awards
Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie has been a newsmaker in the last few days with a four winner Saturday highlighted by the Group III MRC Sir John Monash Stakes winner In Flight, while another of his offspring was honoured in Hong Kong.
$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.
G1 July Cup Shock Result
The July Summer Festival meeting at Newmarket continued overnight with the Group I July Cup (6f) for the sprinters producing a complete blow out result, while the Group II Superlative Stakes (7f) for 2YO’s was won by a Godolphin homebred from the family of their Aussie G1 star Zardozi.