SOURCE: ThoroughBread Daily News /

Beaten by the narrowest of margins in last year’s race, Hellbent (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) came with a sustained rally from the rear of the field to post a smooth maiden Group 1 success in the William Reid S. under the Friday night lights at Moonee Valley.

Winless in 11 starts dating back to a handicap victory when last ridden by Craig Williams at Caulfield in September 2016, Hellbent was allowed to drift back through the field from his widest draw to race last but two as Thronum (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) se the pace in advance of favoured Secret Agenda (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}). Williams began to get after Hellbent fully 600m from the home, swept about six deep off the home corner, came after the front-runner inside the final half-furlong and edged clear to score comfortably.

“The owners have let us put him where we’ve wanted to and there’s been a little bit of frustration there, but finally we’ve got the result that the horse deserves,” trainer Darren Weir told Racing.com. “He’ll find a home now, hopefully up at Yarraman. He’s an I Am Invincible colt, a beautiful looking horse with lots of ability, so he’s got plenty of things going for him.”

Fourth when first-up for four months in the G2 Rubiton S. at Caulfield Feb. 10, Hellbent covered himself in glory with a close third to the now-retired Russian Revolution (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) in the G1 Oakleigh Plate in his most recent appearance Feb. 24.

Pedigree Notes: Hellbent is the fourth individual Group 1 winner and 29th black-type winner overall for his Yarraman Park-based stallion, who has also been responsible for top-level gallopers Brazen Beau (Aus), Viddora (Aus) and I Am a Star (Aus). He is one of three winners from four to race for his dam, who is also responsible for the unraced 3-year-old colt Glasurit (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}) and a Yarraman Park-consigned full-brother to Hellbent that was knocked down to Weir for A$200,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Volkaspray, who was bought back on a bid of A$10,000 carrying the colt that would become Hellbent at the 2012 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale, missed to I Am Invincible in 2017 and was most recently covered by Sooboog (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}).

Friday, Moonee Valley (Melbourne), Australia:
WILLIAM REID S. (William Reid S.)-G1, A$504,000, MVRC, 3-23, 3yo/up, Open Weight For, 1200mT, 1:09.36, Good.
1–HELLBENT, 58.5, h, 5, by I Am Invincible
1st Dam: Volkaspray (NZ), by Volksraad (GB)
2nd Dam : Spraypaint (NZ), by Crested Wave (USA)
3rd Dam: Pop Art, by Arch Sculptor (GB)

*1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST STAKES WIN. (A$95,000 Ylg 2014 WI Classic Yearling Sale) O-A Cardy, P Green, M Wiener, J Hilton, F Mitchell, H Mitchell, A Mitchell, Dr C G Lawler, Yarraman Park Stud, Poidevin Paradice Racing (Mgr: S P Poidevin) & McEnnis Racing Pty Ltd; B-Dr R McClenahan NSW; T-D K Weir; J-Craig Williams; A$304,000. Lifetime Record: 23-7-2-5, A$901,450.