Everest betting was thrown into turmoil after the Group II ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday when favourite Nature Strip was beaten out of a place while I Am Invincible mare Libertini cruised past Classique Legend to win with ease.
Trained by Anthony Cummings, Libertini has always shown glimmers of greatness and she delivered on that potential with this scintillating performance.
Before the race, her trainer declared she had plenty of room for improvement and was not at her peak as he was hoping to have her at her best for the Everest in two weeks time… if she was given the opportunity to run.
There seems no doubt now she’ll be running in the Everest, as even short of her best, Libertini was able to demolish a top class field under Regan Bayliss to win by two lengths in 1:07.60, a time only just short of Yes Yes Yes’s course record he set when winning the Everest last year.
Chris Waller Racing and James Harron still have to fill their vacancies for the Everest and Libertini is now a prime contender.
"I thought she was capable of winning The Everest last year and hopefully we get to prove the point this year," Cummings said.
"She just has to go home eat up and do well and back it up in two weeks time."
Libertini runs for Gerry Harvey and John Singleton and has the impressive record of five wins and three placings second from 10 starts with prizemoney topping $840,000.
Her career was disrupted earlier this year through a niggling injury that resulted in a lengthy spell, but all things going well it would be nice to think we’re going to see a lot more of Libertini, who is a serious blueblood.
She is the best of three winners from Group I ATC Coolmore Classic winner Aloha, a half-sister by Encosta de Lago to the dam of Group II winner My Emotion from the family of Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Seabrook.
Gerry Harvey will be pleased to see Libertini achieving so much as Aloha has a two year-old filly by I Am Invincible to follow and a yearling colt by the same sire and is back in foal to him again.
Yarraman Park's super sire I Am Invincible has had some seriously good Group I sprinting mares in Loving Gaby and Viddora and Libertini will be adding her name to that list.
If Libertini can win the Everest, it may be just what her sire I Am Invincible needs to propel him to his first Australian Champion Sire title after chasing Snitzel home for the past three seasons in second place.
