Twice second in Group I sprints last season, classy six year-old I Am Invincible gelding Voodoo Lad resumed from a spell to score a comfortable win in the Group III MRC The Heath Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Transferred to Darren Weir last year after racing successfully for Rod Northam as a two, three and four year-old, Voodoo Lad has gone to another level in Victoria.
Voodoo Lad travelled strongly in the run for Brad Rawiller in fifth position, but when switched into the clear on straightening for home produced a sizzling turn of foot to charge away and win the 1100 metre sprint by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s still got a bit to go but that’s a good result. He’s a smart horse,” said Weir, who is yet to map out a program for Voodoo Lad.
Voodoo Lad impressed winning rider Brad Rawiller.
“He got a little bit strong mid-race so I let him stride. I know Darren would have preferred I left it a bit later but there was no point in fighting him,” Rawiller said.
“He’s a top-class horse. He’s had 22 starts and only four unplaced runs.”
Purchased for just $36,000 by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds from the Yarraman Park draft at the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale, Voodoo Lad has the overall record of 10 wins from 22 starts with prizemoney topping $1 million.
He is the last foal and third winner for placed Gilded Time (USA) mare O’Fortuna, who died in 2012 and whose dam is a sister to champion sprinter Schillaci.
Voodoo Lad is one of 22 stakes-winners for Yarraman Park’s flagship sire I am Invincible, who is fully booked this spring at $110,000.
