With four of the eight starters in the Justify @ Coolmore Australia Maiden (1400m) at Randwick-Kensington, including the short-priced favourite California Surreal, it was no surprise when I Am Invincible put another winner on the board. Still, it was not the result punters were expecting.
With two unplaced runs at Goulburn and Newcastle, the Annabel Neasham-trained Akhtar was sent off the longest priced runner in the field.
With Jason Collett in the saddle, Akhtar gradually wore down the front runner Dufresne (Hinchinbrook) to break his maiden by a half-head with California Surreal a further four lengths back in third.
“I am not going to lie; it was a little bit of a surprise how much improvement he had taken,” Neasham said.
“I think we may have been riding him wrong. I said to Jason to try and get a bit of cover if you can.
“It was a beautiful ride. He was very patient, and when he was still sitting on him halfway up the straight, I thought we might be in with a chance, and he was very good late. Hopefully, he will take a bit of improvement off that.
‘The way he works at home suggests he will get over a bit of ground. He’s fit and well and uncomplicated.
“It’s great for his new connections and we will find him a race over a bit further now.”
Akhtar provided new owner Vichit Pongsri-Iam with a quick return after purchasing him for $55,000 Inglis August (Late) Online Sale.
The son of I Am Invincible was bought by his trainer for $260,000 from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
He is the third winner from five to race out of the top-class Royal Academy (USA) mare Serious Speed.
Trained by Leon Macdonald, Serious Speed won the Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas, Group II STC Hobartville Stakes and Group III SAJC RA Lee Stakes. She placed twice at the elite level in the VRC Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes.
Serious Speed is a sister to the dam of dual Group II winner Majestic Music and a half to the dam of stakes winners Reldas and Victory Chant.
Purchased by Baramul Stud for $720,000 at the 2014 Patinack dispersal, Serious Speed has a 2yo Snitzel filly that failed to make her $150,000 reserve at the 2021 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
After foaling a filly by The Autumn Sun last spring, Serious Speed was covered by Zoustar.
