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...
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
First to 100
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that this stallion is the first to sire 100 Australian winners this season.
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!
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
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.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.