It would not surprise to see several future topliners emerge from Saturday’s ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day Hcp for 2-year-olds at Rosehill, which was fought out by three first starters.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable has been on fire with their two-year-olds this season, and they can add one more.
Given a positive ride by Adam Hyeronimus, the high-priced I Am Invincible colt Ikasara looked the consummate professional in opening his winning account by three-quarters of a length from Yulong’s $500,000 Written Tycoon colt Althoff, with the $240,000 Blue Point (IRE) colt Point and Shoot rattling home to claim third.
Owned by TFI, Kia Ora Stud, and partners Ikasara was an $800,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing / TFI from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“It’s looking a cheap buy now,” stable representative Neil Paine said.
“Adam Hyeronimus has so much confidence in this horse. Gai and Adrian have really put the work into it at home, and all the staff are keen on him.
“It was a bit sticky from the wide barrier, but this horse was just too good, and he was ridden a treat.”
Adam Hyeronimus said the son of I Am Invincible has the ability to reach the top.
“He is a very good horse. He is still learning, and while he doesn’t have impressive gate speed, which our horses usually do, I don’t see that as a bad thing,” Hyeronimus said.
“There is still so much upside. Once I ended up outside the leader, I was pretty sure it was game over.
“He was a little wayward down the running because he is so new, but I’m sure that if something challenged him, he would have still won.
“He is a very nice horse and definitely up with the best I have ridden this season”.
Ikasara is the first winner from three to race for the More Than Ready mare Ektifaa, a Group II winner in South Africa.
Kia Ora Stud splashed out $1,700,000 for Ektifaa when carrying Ikasara from the Shadwell dispersal at the 2021 National Broodmare Sale.
Her dam Stellar Vinia (Redoute’s Choice), is a three-quarter sister to Group II Widden Stakes winner Fireworks (the dam of Millane), and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Calveen, Group II winner Kosi Bay, stakes winner and Group 1 placed Striker (the dam of WA Oaks winner First Impressions).
Redgum Racing had the final say at $400,000 for Ektifaa’s Farnan colt consigned by Kia Ora Stud to the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
After foaling a sister to Ikasara last spring, Ektifaa was one of 56 mares to visit Exceed And Excel in his final season.
