A high-priced son of I Am Invincible, King Of Sparta was gelded after failing to win in his first four starts at two.
It has been the making of him. The Peter and Paul Snowden trained 4yo came with a barnstorming finish under Chad Schofield to capture the $200,000 Listed Magic Millions Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
The son of I Am Invincible blew past his opposition to defeat fellow I Am Invincible gelding Garibaldi by one and a half lengths, with the Spirit Of Boom gelding Ef Troop a further half-neck back in third.
The winner of the $2million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas in January and the Group III Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield in July, King Of Sparta advances his record to five wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $1,625,000.
“That was very impressive. We knew that field was not beyond him,” Schofield said.
“He likes to find his feet early, and he relaxed well. With clear room, he was just too good.
“The consensus s from the stable was that he would improve with the run, and he is in for a good prep.”
A $700,000 purchase for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Starlight Racing from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, King Of Sparta is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Group III winning Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) mare Octavia.
A $42,000 yearling purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Octavia is a granddaughter of the top-class filly Paklani, a dual Group III winner who was second in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate and third in Canny Lad’s Golden slipper.
Octavia defeated A Time For Julia in the Group III Cockram Stakes and Member’s Joy in the Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes.
The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) has a 2yo filly by Zoustar named Penny For in training with Kris Lees, and a yearling brother to King Of Sparta.
Octavia foaled another I Am Invincible colt on October 23.
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