Third in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington when on debut, the $1,550,000 I Am Invincible filly Charm Stone made no mistake at start two in the Group III Darley Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Oaks Day.
Ridden by Damian Lane for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Charm Stone settled just off the speed before Lane pushed the button at the 300m to race away to a one and three-quarter lengths win over the Choisir filly Empress Of Wonder, with a further half-length to the Hellbent filly Hell Queen and the pacesetting Snitzel filly Tabata Set in fourth.
“She’s beautiful type; big, strong, sound and got a pedigree,” Mick Price said.
“She’s one of Sheamus’ (Mills) buys for the boys and it’s good that she’s now got a Stakes race (win), that makes them as broodmares, albeit at start two, and the question will be, what to do now?
Price said connections will decide whether to aim Charm Stone at the Magic Millions or Blue Diamond Stakes.
“Personally, I’m a Group 1 man, but that’s open for discussion,” he said.
“She’s a big, strong filly, she’ll train on, and she’ll have a good, robust two-year-old year and that’s open for discussion.”
Sheamus Mills said the owners backed his decision to outlay a huge amount for the daughter of I Am Invincible.
“You’ve got to have the backers, so I have to thank the boys. It’s all down to them, you’ve got to find somebody who is prepared to believe in your ability,” Mills said.
“It’s been an amazing ride now, and thankfully we’re repaying them slowly.
“I worked for Mick for years as racing manager, and I would say he’s just gone to a new level in terms of thinking outside the square and his patience with these horses.
“I think he’s a much better trainer than he was 10 years ago. We’d all like to think we’re better at something over time, but he’s patient, and he’s beaching them, he’s doing all sorts of form study. He’s really covering all bases now.
“Now, got to decide if it’s going to be Magic Millions or Blue Diamond, don’t we? I’ll speak to the boys, we’ll put our heads together, but I’d say she’ll have a break now and we can decide which way we want to go.”
Consigned by Emirates Park to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Charm Stone was the top-priced filly and third top overall when Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) had the final say at $1,550,000.
She is a sister to dual Listed winner Najmaty, and the winning Snitzel mare Najmah, out of the hugely talented Northern Meteor mare Najoom who won five, including a pair of Group IIIs and was runner-up twice in a seven-start career.
From the family of Criterion and Comin’ Through descending from the Albert O’Cass import Gainesville (CAN). Najoom has a yearling filly by Tassort and was covered by Capitalist last spring.
Charm Stone is the 85th stakes winner for Yarraman Park Stud’s reigning champion stallion I An Invincible.
