Family owned and run Yarraman Park has been matching strides with global breeding giants over the past two seasons with I Am Invincible claiming Champion Australian First Season Sire in 2013/2014 and now Hinchinbrook taking the title for 2014/2015.
Neither stallion was a Group I winner and both were priced affordably in their debut seasons, the former at $11,000 and the latter at $16,500, which means a great many budget conscious breeders have gained huge benefit from their success.
A three-quarter brother by Fastnet Rock to Snitzel, Hinchinbrook was the only first season sire to crack $1million in progeny earnings, his eight Australian winners including unbeaten Group I winner Press Statement and smart stakes-winner Flippant.
I Am Invincible has gone onwards and upwards with his second crop, finishing as the leading Second Season Sire by winners (59) and second to Medaglia D’Oro (USA) on earnings.
His $4.1 million total seasonal earnings fell marginally short of Medaglia D’Oro on $4.6 million, the bulk of that sire’s earnings coming from his Golden Slipper winner Vancouver.
I Am Invincible was also the third leading two year-old sire by winners (20) behind Not a Single Doubt and Snitzel and was the third leading three year-old sire by earnings behind only Fastnet Rock and Street Cry (IRE).
For I Am Invincible to finish as close to the sires mentioned above is genuinely amazing given his two crops of runners are conceived from an $11,000 fee and is a clear indication of just how far he can upgrade a fairly average mare.
With 55% winners to runners, I Am Invincible was also the punter’s friend and it’s no wonder his fee has been increased to $55,000 and he is booked fully for 2015.
