US investor John Stewart of Resolute Racing came to Australia with the aim of securing the Pierro filly from Winx at Inglis Easter and while he missed out on our national treasure, he did get a nice consolation bidding $3million on the Coolmore consigned I Am Invincible filly from Group I winner Booker.

Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier made a strategic decision a few years back to focus on acquiring top class locally bred broodmares to bolster the Australian division of the family’s global breeding business and the fruits of that endeavour are now reaping rewards.

One of those mares on the target list was Written Tycoon’s Group I MRC Oakleigh Plate winner Booker, who was purchased for $1.6million at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale and her first foal for Coolmore, a colt by I Am Invincible made $2.5million at Magic Millions last year when bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.

Her second foal was just as good and this stunning I Am Invincible filly set a new sales record for her sire when knocked down for $3million and she is also now the second highest priced yearling filly ever in Australia following the Pierrro x Winx filly at $10million.

“What a phenomenon. It’s fantastic that our two continents were connected through this sale in a situation like this,’’ John Stewart said.

“I flew out to Australia a few weeks ago to look at these horses and while I absolutely wanted to buy the Winx filly, I also absolutely wanted to buy this Booker filly, she was my other favourite filly on the farm at Coolmore when I went there so to be able to buy her today at Inglis is fantastic.

“I’m very thankful to have met the Inglis team over the past couple of weeks and it’s been a lot of fun and hopefully I’ve bought some great horses to get our program started in Australia.’’

I Am Invincible had his usual stellar sale with 28 yearlings averaging $666,964 with an aggregate of $18.6million.

He had four yearlings sell for $1million or more with colts from Anaheed (below) and Adrift selling on Monday for $1.2million and $1.15 million to China Horse Club / Newgate / Go Bloodstock / Trilogy and Kia Ora / TFI / Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds respectively.

Yarraman Park sold 11 yearlings for a total of $5.9 million with the $1.8million I Am Invincible filly from Notting Hill the star at $1.8million.