Outstanding mare Invincibella completed a pair of firsts and capped a record breaking season for trainer Chris Waller when she scored a gripping win in Saturday’s Gr1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
The brilliant I Am Invincible mare notched her first Group One win and the first for her jockey, Sydney based star Jason Collett, while it capped an amazing season for Waller, his 18th Group One win for the season, an Australian record.
Chris Waller
The breakthrough success at racing’s elite level continued an incredible Queensland love affair for Invincibella, winner of the two past two runnings of the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies & Mares feature. She has also won back to back Group Two Dane Rippers.
In about sixth and seventh place during the early and middle stages, Invincibella was able to slide up around runners after straightening and despite being bumped late in the race by Godolphin stablemates Pohutukawa and Savatiano she was able to pick herself up and beat them home.
“Gee she was tough today,” Chris Waller’s Gold Coast based stable foreman Paul Shailler said. “There was no more rewarding horse than her.”
Among those celebrating in the winner’s stall at Eagle Farm was Denise Martin, one of Australia’s leading syndication operators, who purchased Invincibella for $185,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Sledmere Stud.
As it stands Invincibella boasts an imposing record of 11 wins from 38 starts and earnings of over $2.46 million.
“It’s special in every way,” a beaming Denise Martin said. “Brett Howard from Randwick Bloodstock found her for me.”
“At the time she was quite big, I thought maybe too big, but he insisted I buy her and she’s been remarkable.”
“She’s won four Group Twos, now a Group One and two million dollar Magic Millions’ – an amazing mare.”
Martin said the owners were “having way too much fun” and Invincibella was likely to stay in training and she suggested another Magic Millions Raceday run was on the cards for the five-year-old.
A half sister to the Melbourne stakes winner Secret Blaze, Invincibella is from Abscond, an unraced Galileo half sister to Victoria Derby placegetter Light Up Manhattan.
Other classy performers in her family include Adelaide Cup winner The Hind and Geelong Cup winner Oregon Star.
Invincibella is the eighth individual Group One winner for Yarraman Park Stud’s outstanding resident sire I Am Invincible joining Brazen Beau, Viddora, I Am a Star, Voodoo Lad, Media Sensation, Oohood and Hellbent,
Winner: Invincibella
Breeding: I Am Invincible-Abscond (Galileo)
Race: Qld Tatt’s RC Tattersalls Tiara G1 (1400m)
Sold for: $185,000
Sale: 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Sledmere Stud
Buyer: Star Thoroughbreds
Earnings: $2,463,303
Owner(s): F Kennedy, Mrs B Kennedy, Paramount Racing (Mgr: Ms K Wood), A Grant-Taylor, M Stiff, M Birchall, Miss C Birchall, R West, P & S Glenney & S Mckee Racing (Mgr: Mrs P Glenney), R Aurisch, Mrs H Aurisch & Boeara Holdings (Mgr: Ms D Dunphy)
Trainer: Chris Waller (Gold Coast)
