I Am Invincible has covered some outstanding mares this spring, but one of the most interesting has been talented Exceed and Excel mare Invictus Salute, who returned to training and won her first Black Type race on Saturday.
Purchased privately from her breeders and previous owners Geoff and Mary Grimmish by Sledmere Stud, Invictus Salute had placed in two of her last eight starts at stakes level.
But the catalogue page received a significant update on Saturday when Invictus Salute captured the Listed Schweppes Starlight Stakes (1100m).
Ridden by the unstoppable Rachel King for trainer Mark Newnham, Invictus Salute stayed on strongly to win by a short-neck.
“That was really satisfying,” Newnham told AAP.
“A bit like Greysful (Glamour), a couple of mares I’ve had pretty much since I started training.
“To have them both win stakes races on the same day is very, very satisfying.
“That’ll probably be her last start now.
“She’s in foal to I Am Invincible, so we’ve added value to her and her offspring.”
Passed in when failing to make her $600,000 reserve when offered by Kitchwin Hills at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Invictus Salute advances her record to six wins, five seconds and three thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $515,305.
A half-sister to Group II winner Splintex and the stakes-placegetter Acqume, Invictus Salute is a daughter of the top-class racemare Acquired.
A multiple Group placed winner of seven races, Acquired is a sister to the stakes-placed Procurement and a half-sister to the Group II Reisling Stakes winner Hips Don’t Lie, dam of Listed winner and Group I Golden Slipper third Lake Geneva and Group III winner Ennis Hill.
Invictus Salute was covered by I am Invincible on September 21.
