A Group III winner at two and three, four year-old I Am Invincible gelding Holyfield hit top form at Ipswich on Saturday to score a dominant length and a half win in the Listed Eyeliner Stakes (1350m).
Ridden a positive race by Brodie Loy, the Annabel Neasham trained gelding was not for catching, skipping clear of his rivals to take his overall record to six wins and four placigns from 22 starts with prizemoney just shy of $700,000.
Originally trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for Aquis, Holyfield was sold through the 20201 Inglis Digital July (late) Sale for $180,000 and has been with Annabel Neasham ever since.
"This horse was my first provincial winner when I moved up to Sydney and I stuck with him on his first win on a Saturday and now his first in Queensland. It is lovely,” said Brodie Loy.
"He's been knocking on the door. Third-up today, fit. He obviously had to work a little bit hard but from the half-mile to around the 450 (metre mark) I felt that we got a really decent breather and he was able to sustain that and was tough to the line.
"All credit to Annabel and the team. It is just great.”
An $800,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Segenhoe draft for Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis, Holyfield was bred by Segenhoe and is a full brother to stakes-placed Vamos Bebe.
He is the is best of four winners from Group I VRC Myer Classic winner Hurtle Myrtle and comes from the family of Golden Slipper winner Star Watch.
A top class daughter of Dane Shadow, Hurtle Myrtle was bought by Segenhoe for $1million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale back in 2012.
Her yearling filly by Deep Field sold for $240,000 at Magic Milliosn this year to Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd.
Holyfield is the 17th Australian stakes-winner this season for Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible which puts him on a par with Snitzel, who also has 17.
I Am Invincible stands at a fee of $247,500 this spring.
