The Moonee Valley meeting on Friday night started with a brilliant win for I Am Invincible colt Minsk Moment, who made it two wins from as many starts when scoring a stylish victory.
Trained by Chris Waller, Minsk Moment won his only previous start at Canterbury in June, but has been flying under the radar somewhat until tonight.
He powered to the line to win the open three year-old event over 1200m by a length and a half over Group placed Port Louis and stakes-winner He’s Xceptional.
Winning rider Brett Prebble was full of praise for Minsk Moment.
"He's a really nice colt, he's still a little bit inexperienced,” said Prebble.
"Once he got on the leader's back and was right behind him, he was nice, very tractable. Once he got the split and he had his own running he was too good for them. He's a really nice horse, he's got a lovely nice action on him, he's a good little sprinter in the making."
Minsk Moment was purchased by James Bester Bloodstock/Coolmore Stud for $575,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at Magic Millions.
Bred by K Biggs Enterprises Pty Ltd and T Russell, Minsk Moment is the first foal of the Oratorio (AUS) mare Dancing Express, runner-up in the Group III WATC Sires' Produce Stakes and Group III Champion Fillies Stakes.
A half-sister to stakes-winner Stagnite, Dancing Express has a two year-old filly by Hellbent, who Australian Bloodstock purchased for $100,000 out of the Yarraman Park Stud draft at Magic Millions this year.
Yarraman Park's champion sire I Am invincible had the first two winners on the program with five year-old gelding Lombardo winning the following race, a Benchmark 84 over 1200m.
