Invincibeel - Te Akau's Fourth Te Rapa Winner

Date: 20 Jan 2022

Invincibeel - Te Akau's Fourth Te Rapa Winner


Rounding out four wins on card, Invincibeel (3 f Savabeel - Matakana, by Mastercraftsman) won the $12,000 Te Rapa Tavern Mile Maiden 1600 metres on 19 January at Te Rapa.

Opening the programme with a stable trifecta, won by Campionessa (Contributer), this was followed by debut winner Ange De Reve (Belardo), and smart all-the-way winner Polly Plum (Xtravagant), then Invincibeel stormed home in terrific fashion.

On 3 January at Te Aroha, Invincibeel was easy from gate (12) when making good ground for sixth in Maiden 1400 metres and appreciated stepping to 1600 metres.

Again drawn wide (12), she was let settle third last by jockey Craig Grylls as a competitive pace ensued 10 lengths ahead of her. She appeared to improve nicely into contention rounding the home turn and once clear at the 300m, was able to unleash powerfully to win well.

On Dead4 footing, she ran 1600 metres in 1:37.6, last 600m 37.1, and paid $6.20 & $2.70 on NZ TAB tote.

“She's always shown a lot of ability and it was a good tough effort,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “She trialled well as a two-year-old, then we got held up with (bone) chips in a joint.

“It's taken a little while for everything to fit together. We had blinkers on her, trying to get her going and she was over-racing, but I think she just wants to stay and get over ground.

“She still gave Gryllsy a hard time, back in the field, but that's probably the way to ride her: teach her to relax early and get her to finish off.

“It was a big effort from where she was on the point of the corner and she found a great kick. Once she got there she put them away nicely.

“We bought her for the Gartshore's, who were looking for another Savabeel mare to join their broodmare band, and it was good to see her deliver like that in her Maiden win.

“Based in our new Little Barn, she's not the easiest to manage, so I'd like to thank those that ride her work and look after her so well.”

Bred by Christopher Grace QSM, owned by Bill & Jim Gartshore, who had top Group 1 winning mare Savy Yong Blonk (Savabeel) in the stable, she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $145,000, from draft of Little Avondale Stud, at 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale.

From a family that produces some really good racehorses, Invincibeel is by six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel) from a young mare by successful sire Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer), who is also dam sire of Group 1 and Group 3 winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible).

“She was an absolute ripper yearling filly, out of a Mastercraftsman mare that was good enough to finish fourth in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m),” Ellis said. “Unfortunately, she hurt herself after that and never raced again.

“She's continued developing into a lovely type of filly and the way she won today is very encouraging. On type and family, she could become a middle distance mare like Savy Yong Blonk.

“She's out of a nice young mare, from a family we've had a bit of success with and I'm thrilled for the Gartshore brothers who own her.”

At the time of purchase, vendor Sam Williams (Little Avondale Stud) said: “She's a lovely, big, strong Savabeel filly. She's got a great attitude and constitution, produced by a breeder (Christopher Grace) that has had a lot of success with Savabeel and produced a lot of black type horses.”

The filly has beautiful cross of legendary stallion Sir Tristram, on sire line as sire of Zabeel, and dam line of Matakana as sire of third dam sire Grosvenor.

Invincibeel was strapped Sam Bergerson.

 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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