Unbeaten in two barrier trials, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained I Am Invincible colt Anode did everything right on race day at Randwick on Saturday to open his account with a dominant win over the much hyped race favourite Amazing Eagle.
A son of Capitalist, Amazing Eagle impressed track watchers with a recent seven length trial win, but was unable to replicate that effort under race conditions.
He stepped away slowly and settled fourth while Anode charged forward to take the lead and travelled sweetly all the way for Rachel King. Amazing Eagle found the line reasonably to grab second, but was no match for the winner, who coasted home to win by three and a half lengths.
“Rachel won it at the start, she hit the ground two lengths in front and just took control,” said stable representative Neil Paine.
Rachel King was full of praise for Anode.
“It was nothing less than you expect from Gai and Adrian, he jumped well and put himself there, although he was quite casual, so I had to keep reminding him, but I loved the way he knuckled down that last furlong,” said King.
“He’s got a great attitude and he wants to win, although he’s still learning and when the penny drops he’ll be even nicer.”
Anode was passed in at Magic Millions and retained by Evergreen Rich and is a half-brother to Singapore Derby winner Han Xin from the family of champion sire Fastnet Rock.
He is the sixth winner from eight to race from Mysterious Light, a metro winning Fantastic Light (USA) mare from stakes-placed Cirque du Soleil, who is a sister to Fastnet Rock with Group II winner Lightsaber also on the page.
Mysterious Light has a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn) that will be offered by Evegreen Rich at Inglis Premier as Lot 416 and a colt foal by Zoustar.
