Following a heart-breaking second in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) and a close-up fourth in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, Viddora rewarded connections with a maiden Group 1 success in Saturday's $1 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
With regular rider Joe Bowditch in the saddle, the Lloyd Kennewell-trained mare showed a blistering turn of foot, coming from midfield to storm to a one and a half-length win over Fuhryk (Star Witness) with Durendal (Medaglia d'Oro) a long-head back in third. (photos Magic Millions)
It was the first Group 1 win for the 5yo daughter of I Am Invincible and a first for her young trainer.
"That was bloody sensational, that was the best feeling, at the 200 (metres) it was all over," Kennewell said
"She's a really good mare. She's been through the ringer and come out the other side. She's been in some good races and been unlucky.
"I'd like to thank everyone involved, it means so much to me."
Bowditch said the stable had been upbeat all week.
"She really deserved this one. To go close a couple of times and not get there was heartbreaking but to finally get it done today was very rewarding," Bowditch said.
"I rode her trackwork during the week and you could feel her getting stronger as the week went on and we knew we had the right horse.
"She was a little bit tardy at the start. We had a plan to ride her up on the speed. Lloyd said if she misses the start I'll leave it in your hands.
"I ended up getting a lovely run through and it always helps when they travel into it.
'The only thing she does want to do if she gets there too easy she floats a bit, which she did today, so there was a lot of credit in the win. If she goes straight and does everything right she wins by further.
"I was confident when I got up inside State Solicitor, I knew he was going to get held up a bit or have to cover a bit of ground to get around them. As we were picking them off coming around the home corner there was a few dropping off and I was able to get him to the outside and I thought it's all over now, he can't give me a head start and beat me."
Bred by Riva Ridge, Viddora advances her record of 7 wins, 6 seconds and 1 third from 23 starts with prizemoney of $1,473,680.
A $40,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase for her trainer in 2014, Viddora is the second foal of the 5-time Melbourne winner Snow Flight, a daughter of the Zabeel stallion Colombia, who is a brother to Octagonal and Mouawad.
Zabeel is out of the Nureyev mare Lady Giselle whose dam Valderna is out of the outstanding broodmare Derna who is the great- great- granddam of Snow Flight.
Derna produced the top fillies Detroit (Arc de Triomphe) and Durtal (Cheveley Park Stakes and 2nd 1000 Guineas).
A daughter of Riverman, Detroit produced the 1994 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Carnegie (IRE) while Durtal (Lyphard) is the dam of dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Gildoran (Rheingold) who, like Carnegie, found his way to stud in Australia.
Snow Flight has a 2yo colt by Fiorente named Snowplough, a yearling filly by Magnus and foaled a colt by the I Am Invincible stallion Super One on September 30.
Viddora becomes the third Group I winner for Yarraman Park Stud's I Am Invincible after Brazen Beau and I Am A Star.
There will be plenty of chances to acquire a yearling by the red-hot I Am Invincible in the new year with 44 heading to the Magic Millions and 12 catalogued for the Inglis Classic.
