Vinery Stud’s I Am Invincible – Risque (NZ) colt set the benchmark for Day 2 of the Inglis Premier Sale with a $700,000 bid from Melbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
They saw off some spirited competition after bidding resounded around the Oaklands auditorium on Monday morning. Vinery sold the colt (as agent) on behalf of Neil Werrett and Darren Thomas.
“We rated him one of the best colts in the Sale,” Busuttin said. “He has all the attributes you look for and we knew he wasn’t going to come cheap. It’s been tough getting on the good ones at Magic Millions and Karaka but we didn’t want to miss this one.
“His dam got over ground but he’s a compact colt and the I Am Invincible speed makes him look an early 2yo runner.”
Risque (Darci Brahma) was bred by David Bentata whose Group 1 strike-rate with Vinery sires includes More Than Ready colt Gimmethegreenlight (Queen’s Plate) and Mossman filly Ofcourseican (Coolmore Classic).
She won the 2015 NZ One Thousand Guineas Gr.1 and was subsequently purchased privately by Werrett and Thomas on the recommendation of bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington.
Transferred to David Hayes at Lindsay Park, Risque claimed the Kevin Hayes Stakes Gr.3 first-up at Caulfield prior to a half-length placing behind Palentino in the Australian Guineas Gr.1 at Flemington.
The mare foaled a More Than Ready filly in October and was bred back to Written Tycoon.
Vinery sold another $700,000 colt by I Am Invincible at the Gold Coast Magic Millions in January and bloodstock manager Adam White said the Melbourne Premier colt had been popular during inspections at the farm.
“He’s an attractive first foal and is a lovely mover by the right stallion. He looks a sharp type who will go early next season.”
Vinery partner Greg Perry has brilliant I Am Invincible 4yo mare Marabi heading for the bright lights after another runaway victory in the Sally Bruten Memorial Hcp (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday evening.
Marabi is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and had won in similar style at Pakenham on debut last month. The combined front-running margins stretched to 13 lengths.
“She’s still a bit raw but put them to bed tonight,” Eustace said. “Greg has been a big supporter of our stable and it’s great to get another good one for him. She’s an exciting sprinter and we will be looking to get her into better grades.”
Marabi is a younger half-sister to the Perry-bred Aristia (Lonhro) who claimed the Wakeful Stakes Gr.2 – Victorian Oaks Gr.1 double at Flemington in 2018. And her 3yo half-brother Ruddock (Written Tycoon) is a last-start Canterbury winner for Annabel Neasham.
