By John Holloway
A highly anticipated weekend of spectacular performances by the rags-to-riches stallion I Am Invincible during the Magic Millions carnival could have the Yarraman Park-based sire standing alongside Fastnet Rock and Snitzel as Australia's most sought-after performers Down Under.
Speculation at the Gold Coast complex this week is that I Am Invincible will become Australia's newest six-figure stallion, and who could deny the most handsome of Hunter Valley sires is worth every cent.
Regally bred: This colt by More Than Ready from Purespeed sold for $1.3 million at the Magic Millions sales on Thursday. Credit: Magic Millions
His performances in December and during the Melbourne spring carnival were tremendous, and the Yarraman Park team of Harry and Arthur Mitchell have already been inundated with bookings for the stallion whose career started at a $10,000 fee in 2012.
"We are thrilled with what 'Vinnie' has achieved and his runners at this week's $10 million Magic Millions day are quite amazing. The barrier draw hasn't been too kind in the Two-Year-Old Classic but that's racing and we are looking forward to his yearlings selling in the lead-up to race-day," Harry Mitchell declared.
"There is a lot of talk about I Am Invincible's half-brother to Sizzling [Lot 607, which sells on Friday] topping the sale and we have to take everything into account before deciding on what price the stallion will stand for this year."
There is also talk Snitzel's fee will increase and also rightfully so. He emulated his illustrious father Redoute's Choice at Arrowfield last year with a service fee of $110,000 including GST.
Bloodlines also believes Smart Missile's fee will receive a slight upgrade and the stallion, Australia's leading freshman sire last year, has his three-year-olds going great guns. His $22,000 covering fee was quite a value outlay.
Waller watch
Last week's Bloodlines article centred around the tremendous barrier trial display by the Frankel-More Strawberries colt named Merovee, who is under the care of leading trainer Chris Waller.
Bloodlines discussed his future with Waller during his rounds at the Magic Millions complex this week, where he was inspecting future members for his huge Rosehill team.
As usual Waller was straight to the point and said he had sent Merovee to the spelling paddocks after his fourth in the Rosehill trial. "It was very tempting to give him a Golden Slipper campaign but I am looking to the future and I am confident he has group 1 wins ahead of him in the future as a late two-year-old and an early three-year-old," he said.
"We still may see him during the autumn carnival with a possible tilt at the group 1 Sires' Produce before sending him to Brisbane for their winter carnival where I have been successful in recent years. Merovee is really an exciting horse and I am lucky to have him in my stable and I am confident racegoers will see his true ability as he gets older."
Shout for Holler
Two stallion announcements were made this week: Darley revealed Holler will commence stud duties at its Victorian base, while Europe's leading freshman sire Sir Prancealot will be shuttling to Cornerstone Stud in South Australia. Holler, a son of Commands, will be standing at Darley's Northwood Park and the stud has decided to offer a limited number of breeding rights to the stallion.
Holler is a winner of the group 1 Canterbury Stakes and was an excellent second in the group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Sir Prancealot, a son of Tamayuz, will leave his European base of Tally Ho Stud in Ireland to stand at Cornerstone and this is a great coup for the South Australian breeding industry.
Sam Hayes was glowing with his appraisal of Sir Prancealot, who sired 32 individual winners last season in Europe and eclipsed the number of wins experienced by Frankel.
"It takes something special to beat the likes of Frankel in a sires' premiership and his presence in Australia should be a good one for our breeders," Hayes said.