I Am Invincible: Quickly Into Stride

There would have been a large number of investors with differing reasons for being excited about the all the way win of Vinnie Eagle (I Am Invincible-Sweet Maggie by Danehill Dancer) in the two-year-old event at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Vinnie Eagle is the first runner to the races by freshman stallion I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit - Cannarelle by Canny Lad), an Adelaide Group 3 winning sprinter who has been well supported by punters to win the Australian First Season Sires Title and by breeders who have already sent over 400 mares to the impressive looking grandson of Green Desert.

Another encouraging sign for his supporters is Vinnie Eagle's female pedigree which suggests he may well be more than just a jump and run type. His maternal family is a black-type European family which is covered off in more depth in an article written on this blog earlier this year on his close relation Nashville.

Vinnie Eagle is the second foal of an unraced Danehill Dancer half sister to last season's Group 1 WFA Haunui Classic winner Nashville who showed he is on track for next month's Group 1 WFA Spring classic (Formerly the Kelt) with an authortaive fresh-up win at Wanganui recently.

This display of precocity should not be a surprise because I Am Invincible was forward enough to win his debut as a summer two-year-old at Warwick Farm over 1000m in 57.6. He ran third to the eventual Golden Slipper winner Forensics at his next start in the Listed Kindergarten Stakes after crossing to the lead from a wide draw.

Unfortunately the leg problems that ultimately restricted his career to 13 starts began to flare up after the Kindergarten run and he did not return to the races until the spring of his four-year-old season. His most significant performance came that season when he finished second to the champion Takeover Target in the 1200m Group 1 Goodwood Handicap.

I Am Invincible is the best performed male representative from the 256 live foals left by the champion Irish stallion Invincible Spirit during his four seasons shuttling to Victoria. Triple Group 1 winner Yosei is his only Group 1 winner from that sojourn.

The female family of I Am Invincible is a tough and fast Woodlands Stud family that has produced Mamzelle Pedrille and O'Lohnro amongst others.

Vinnie Eagle looks a nice sort to kick-start the business end of the stallion career of his sire I Am Invincible.