The incredible depth of The Everest form was highlighted on Saturday when I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs emerged from his last start engagement against the best sprinters in the world to blow away his three year- old rivals with an explosive display of power sprinting in the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Traditionally won by the best three year-old sprinter of their generation, the Coolmore Stud Stakes winner is invariably a horse of the highest quality and Home Affairs has added his name to the honour roll.
Trained by Chris Waller, Home Affairs won the Group II ATC Silver Slipper last season, but was a raw baby with the best still clearly to come.
The big athletic bay has developed into a formidable force with the benefit of maturity and the good 3 track at Flemington allowed us to see what he can really do with some gear changes in a tongue tie and nose roll obviously bringing out his best.
Home Affairs led all the way for James McDonald to win by three lengths eased down with no colt getting close enough to issue a challenge. The also rans were headed by Snitzel colt Bruckner and last season’s Group I Blue Diamond Stakes winner Artorius.
“This is what we come for. To ride such a special colt like this; he was electric today. I couldn’t believe at the furlong that I was so far in front. That is the acceleration of this horse, he just idled through his paces early. Nothing could keep up with him and he ran out the six furlongs so strong. He is a weapon this horse,” said an ecstatic McDonald.
“He (Chris Waller) is such a good trainer. We say it over and over all the time. He just changed a bit of gear, got the horse to relax. I did a bit of work on him the other day and gee he felt good up that straight. He just pricked his ears from probably the 600m on and when I let him go he let rip.
“He’s an absolute beauty. The temperament and mind, that is what makes these good horses. To do it for these connections who are great supporters of mine, and Sir Peter Vella is in as well, they put a lot of money in and these are the results we are after.”
An $875,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Tom Magnier from the Torryburn Stud draft, Home Affairs runs for a big syndicate headed by Coolmore and various partners and has the overall record of three wins and two placings from seven starts with some $1.6 million in prizemoney.
A half-brother to Group I placed Aysar, Home Affairs was bred by Torryburn Stud and is the second winner from Miss Interiors, a winning half-sister by Flying Spur to dual Group I winner and sire Russian Revolution and Group III winner Turbo Miss.
Home Affairs is the tenth Group I winner for Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible, whose champion son Brazen Beau also won the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2014.
I Am Invincible is setting a hot pace this season as Australia’s leading sire by winners.
