A three-time winner in Ireland, I Am Superman arrived in Australia with his trainer and part-owner Michael O’Callaghan for the inaugural $7,500,000 Golden Eagle after finishing third in a Group III race at Leopardstown following a meritorious sixth in the Group 1 2000 Guineas (1609m) at The Curragh won by Phoenix Of Spain from Too Darn Hot.
The son of Footstepsinthesand (IRE) finished down the track behind Kolding but he was left in the care of Peter and Paul Snowden and had some decent form in stakes races in Sydney before opening his Australian account over 1400m at Caulfield on Memsie Stakes day.
Back in Sydney for Saturday’s Group II Iron Jack Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, I Am Superman made it two on the trot when opening his stakes account with a one and a quarter length score over Riodini (Proisir) with Looks Like Elvis (All American) a half-neck back in third.
I Am Superman earned a ticket for the Epsom Handicap, but Paul Snowden said he is unlikely to go that way.
“We were devastated when he didn’t get a run in the Rupert Clarke last week, we thought he would be very effective and they are the races we are targeting for him,” Paul Snowden said.
“We wanted to win today to make sure we got a run in the Toorak in two weeks. The Epsom may be a bit strong for him at this stage. He is exempt from ballot and we will give him every chance, but we will probably go to the Toorak.
“He is still a bull, so it is important to get that Group 1 on his resume."
A €20,000 Goffs weanling, I Am Superman was purchased by Michael O'Callaghan for €49,000 out of the Danesrath Stud draft at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.
He is the lone winner from two to race out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Fastnet lady a daughter of the Group III-placed Montjeu mare Mooretown Lady.
I Am Superman (IRE) becomes the 65th stakes-winner for the Two Thousand Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand (GB) (Giant’s Causeway) a two-season shuttler to Coolmore Australia.
