Aquis Farm’s Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes hero Invader is on the board with his first winner coming in dramatic fashion at Townville on Thursday.
The Kevin Hansen-trained filly Sweet Invader was sent off an odds-on chance for her debut in a QTIS 2-Y-O Maiden over 1000m.
With Justin Stanley in the saddle, Sweet Invader missed the start by three lengths. Scrubbed along to stay in contact, the daughter of Invader moved into a challenging position on the turn although she was still standing up the leaders four lengths.
With 100 metres left to travel it appeared Sweet Invader would place a meritorious second to the experienced Stratum Star gelding Go Getaboy, but she launched in the final few strides to edge Go Getaboy by a shorthead.
The Mission gelding Altar Boy was four and three-quarter lengths back in third.
"I think she's a very smart filly," Hansen said, confirming that the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast was the goal.
Sweet Fantasy has been rated a $51 chance by Sportsbet for the Classic in a market dominated by the Group III Gimcrack Stakes winner Coolangatta (Written Tycoon).
Bred by Evergreen Stud Farm, Sweet Fantasy is already a three-time veteran of the sales ring.
She failed to find a buyer at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale and 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before finding a home with Kenneth and Michelle Walker, who made the final bid of $35,000 at the National Yearling Sale.
Sweet Invader is the second live foal and first runner out of the unraced Starcraft mare Fantasy Quest.
A half-sister to four winners, Fantasy Quest is a daughter of the Carnegie mare Info Miss a half-sister to Group 1 winner Black Mamba (Black Minnaloushe) and to the dam of Group 1 AJC Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor (Montjeu) and Group II Wellington Guineas winner Rios (Hussonet).
Fantasy Quest has a yearling colt by Adelaide (IRE), but missed to Headwater last year.
A Snitzel half-brother to the top-class Not Listenin’tome (Dylan Thomas), Invader stands at Aquis Farm for a fee of $22,000.
With his first crop selling up to $550,000 the handsome son of Snitzel should again be popular at the sales in 2022. He has eleven catalogued for the Magic Millions and twenty-two at the Inglis Classic.
