WHITTLESEA trainer Peter Morgan has plans to put I Am Invincible on the international stage after the entire’s narrow, but impressive win, in the $100,000 Listed Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Morgan said his owners are keen for the lightly-raced four-year-old son of Invincible Spirit and Cannarelle to race in America’s Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint (1300m) in November, the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December, and all going well, a crack at Royal Ascot next year.
I Am Invincible ($4.20) gave his followers a fright in the weight-for-age race when he missed the start by two lengths.
Regular jockey Darren Gauci said the entire took a step backwards when the gates opened, causing him to hit the barrier when he jumped.
I Am Invincible quickly recovered and went to the lead.
Although getting tired on the line, the entire held off $3.20 favourite Gran Sasso with a half head to spare.
"If he gets held up he seems to choke down, so we just have to let him run," Morgan said.
The entire was given to Morgan to train due to his bad feet, and he has now won three races and a second to Takeover Target in the Goodwood Handicap from five starts.
"He hadn’t had a saddle on him since last Tuesday. He spends most of his time in the water walker," Morgan said.
It was a big three days for the Morgan and his Talwood Park stable, as they won with the impressive Triskele ($8) at Ballarat last Thursday and the following day Morgan took out a double with Polrossa ($2.50) in the Maiden Plate over 1590 metres, and the unbeaten Burgdane ($2.60) in the 0-62 Handicap (1200m).
Triskele (King’s Best x Lady Isabella) won his maiden by 4-3/4 lengths.
"He’s pretty smart and I think he’s got a future," Morgan said.
"Burgdane will be entered for a midweek metro race in a fortnight’s time," he said.
Brisbane win for the Buttlers
Kilmore Racing Club chairman Eric Buttler and his wife Marlene were thrilled with the win of their home-bred and part-owned Jacqueline Rouge ($6) at Eagle Farm (Qld) on Saturday.
The Rangal Park-bred five-year-old daughter of Ne Coupez Pas and Northeast Sheila was an all-the-way winner of the Listed $75,000 Tattersall’s Mile Handicap (1600m).
Trained throughout her career by Tony Noonan (he also trained the mare), Jacqueline Rouge has had no luck with barrier draws in her recent Brisbane campaign, which included a last start cracking fourth in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap.
Jacqueline Rouge was saddled-up by dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mick Robins who has been overseeing Noonan’s team over the Brisbane Carnival.
It was a quinella for the stable as the mare defeated this year’s Kilmore Cup winner Ab Almalik ($10) by 1-1/4 lengths.
The mare was ridden by ‘comeback’ jockey Stathi Katsidis.
"We will decide her future in the next week or so. She was to go to Tale Of The Cat this season, but she is racing so well at present Tony (Noonan) might want to keep her going," Eric Buttler said.
The mare has now had 33 starts, winning six with 10 minors and accruing in excess of $422,000 in prize money.
Outsider wins for Alicia
The Buttlers also bred the Alicia Macpherson-trained Homelander ($17) who was a narrow but solid winner of the Team Rooney Racing Handicap (0-72) over 1300 metres at Wodonga the previous day.
Closely related to Jacqueline Rouge, the five-year-old gelded son of Keltrice and Jovan was positioned just off the pace by area jockey Carl Spry, with the former Queenslander pulling his mount off the rails halfway down the running to mow down the leaders getting up by a long neck.
The Buttlers lease the gelding to the trainer and a number of Minstral Park Thoroughbred Racing clients, including KRC advisory sub-committeeman Ben Sumpter.
Homelander has now won six races from 25 starts.
