Adelaide trainer Lloyd Kennewell was underbidder on last season's Magic Millions 2YO Classic heroine Houtzen, but he looks to have worthy contender for the valuable race on the Gold Coast in January with another daughter of I Am Invincible in La Pomme de Pin who blitzed the opposition in Saturday's Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1200m) at Ballarat.
La Pomme de Pin was second to Long Leaf at her career debut at Morphettville four weeks back, before Long Leaf confirmed the value of that form when successful in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Sandown seven days ago.
The daughter of I Am Invincible jumped to the front under Joe Bowditch then cleared out to win by five and half lengths over the Matt Cumani-trained Anthemoessa (Smart Missile) while the $4 favourite Our Toninicconi (Nicconi), a length and a quarter back in third.
"She's just a natural, we made our intention clear she was going to lead and after fifty metres she was Black Caviar odds," Kennewell said.
"For a little filly she's done everything right to get to this stage.
"She had one jump-out before her first defeat. She's come on since then, she stayed at Flemington and galloped terrific during the week.
"I'd like to thank everyone involved including, Harry Mitchell from Yarraman Park for breeding her and my biggest and best owner Santo Guagliardo, a champion bloke who will be watching back in Perth. It's great to get another really good one for him and he might have a runner in the Gold Coast Magic Millions now.
"I was underbidder on I Am Invincible's last Magic Millions winner so hopefully, we can go one better and have a runner in it. It would be nice.
"We've got 14 I Am Invincibles in the stable, she's got a bit to do to catch up with Viddora and Via Balciano (who won earlier in the day) but they are all really nice horses."
La Pomme de Pin (pictured as a yearling ) was an $85,000 purchase by her trainer from the Attunga Stud draft at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
A few month later, Yarraman Park sold her dam Crimson Lane, carrying a filly by The Factor, for just $7,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale.
The dam of four winners from six to race, Crimson Lane (Danehill) is a half-sister to Group III winner Crimson Reign (Red Ransom), the dam of Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes and Group II BRC Moreton Cup winner Deploy.
