Three promising debutants fought out the finish of the Tab Maiden Hcp (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The honours went to Tim Clark, who led at every call on the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained I Am Invincible colt Piercing Arrow.
Chautauqua’s half-brother Need Some Luck could have used more of that. The son of Rubick was never closer than three wide from an outside barrier and went down fighting by a length.
The Toronado (IRE) colt Copacabana stuck to his guns to be a further one and a half lengths back in third.
Sporting the same colours as his close relation Criterion, Piercing Arrow continues the magnificent season for Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock.
“This colt has a lot of depth; he is a nice individual,” Adrian Bott said.
“The ownership group paid good money for him at the yearling sales, and I think, as a type, you will see why. He has a lovely page to back him up.
“There is a lot to like about that performance.
“Sir Owen Glenn and Steve O’Conner from Go Bloodstock have had a fantastic season with horses bred off Newgate Farm and have made some select purchases at the sales, such as this colt.
“We are fortunate to have their support, and this horse is closely related to Criterion, who Sir Owen raced, so this horse will mean a lot to him.
“We will target him for some nice races in the spring, mindful of his value and potential. There may not be much left for him in this preparation.”
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Go Bloodstock shelled out $1,000,000 for Piercing Arrow from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
A half-brother to the South African Group III winner Muwaary (O’Reilly), the son of I Am Invincible, is the sixth winner for the stakes-winning Anabaa (USA) mare Silently.
A half-sister to 4-time Group 1 winner and $7,268,869 earner Criterion (Sebring), Group 1 Doomben Cup and $1,849,238 earner Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock), and Group II QTC Cup winner Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice), Silently had a full brother to Piercing Arrow sell to Gary Portelli for $180,000 at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Silently has a weanling colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) and was covered by Hellbent last spring.
Piercing Arrow is the tenth 2yo winning of the season for I Am Invincible.
