The first foal of triple G1-winning mare Shoals (Fastnet Rock), blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the G3 VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Isthmus let loose with a brilliant turn of foot for Blake Shinn at the furlong to dash away from her rivals winning by two and a half lengths to take her overall record to five wins from 11 starts.
Blink and you'll miss her 💨
ISTHMUS sprints home to take out the last on #DerbyDay.
🎥 @wwos | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/eEkh4Cxc2h
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 2, 2024
“Being a stakes winner now makes a big difference to her page and she’s certainly a valuable mare,” Sam Freedman said.
“So she’s capable of getting to the top level, we feel, and maybe it’s a Sangster (G1) in the Autumn.”
Retained to race by her breeders Arrowfield Stud and Jonathan Munz, Isthmus is the first foal of triple G1 winner Shoals, a full sister to stakes-winner Groundswell that claims blue hen Shantha’s Choice as her grandam, so it’s the family of G1 winners Redoute’s Choice, Platinum Scissors and Manhattan Rain.
Shoals has an unnamed two year-old filly by I Am Invincible and has also foaled this spring producing another filly by Vinnie.
Isthmus is the 110th stakes-winner for Yarraman Park’s three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible.