Yarraman Park Stud’s unstoppable I Am Invincible took his seasonal stakes tally to 17 when Illustrious Lad returned from two years in the wilderness in Saturday’s Listed SAJC City Of Marion Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.

After securing the run of the race on the fence behind the leader, Anthony Darmanin pushed the top-weight through a narrow gap to defeat a game Nariko by a head.

It was the first win for the Peter Gelagotis-trained gelding since the Group II VRC Tab.com.au Stakes at Flemington in October 2016.
With his fourth stakes win Illustrious Lad advances his record to 10 wins, six seconds and a third from 39 starts with earnings of $810,297.

“It’s been frustrating, he has been a handy horse and we’ve had a lot of fun with him,” Peter Galagotas said.

“We have travelled here and there, and he has raced well without winning.

“I thought at the 100m we were beaten, the horse on the outside headed him but to his credit, he fought back, he wanted to be a winner today.”

From the first crop of I Am Invincible, Illustrious Lad was purchased by his managing owner Anthony Panozzo for $40,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Tragically, Illustrious Lad is the only live foal of the Zeditave mare Industrious who was raced by Panozzo to win two races in Melbourne and place in the Group III MVRC Champagne Stakes.

Now one of the most sought-after stallions in the land, I Am Invincible is the most represented sire at the 2019 Magic Millions with 61 entries while he has 20 catalogued for the Inglis Classic and 10 at the Inglis Premier.