The 2-year-old I Am Immortal filly I Am Velvet kept her record at a perfect three for three in Saturday’s $1750,000 Vobis Gold Ingot (1400m) at Caulfield, and if she learns to go straight, a stakes-winner in waiting.
Once again, I Am Velvet gave Daniel Stackhouse a horror ride as she came down the straight on one rein to defeat the favourite Dom (Pierro) by one and a half lengths, with Cavity Bay (Cable Bay) back in third.
Trainer Phillip Stokes added a bubble cheeker on the near side following similar antics when bolting in by three lengths on the Pakenham Synthetic last start and her debut win at Pakenham.
“It was a good ride by Stacky because we didn’t think there was going to be a lot of speed, and I was pleased when he pushed to get outside the favourite,” Stokes said.
“The hanging in is a problem. I thought the bubble cheeker would rectify that, but we will keep working on it.
“She ran the 1400m out strong, so that’s a tick. She is an exciting filly; we will try to iron out those kinks.
“I think she is a stakes filly in the making.
Bred by Esker Lodge Australia and partners and sporting the fluorescent yellow silks of Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, I Am Velvet carries the same colours of her talented half-brother Tobaysure (Cable Bay), and her dam, Black Velveteen (Domesday), a Sandown winner in a 4-start career for Michael Kent.
From the family of Rosemont Stud’s Strasbourg, Black Velveteen has not had a foal since I Am Velvet and was covered by Shalaa (IRE) last spring.
I Am Velovet is one of three winners from the first crop of Swettenham Stud’s Blue Diamond Prelude winner I Am Immortal (I Am Invincible).
The brother to the Listed winner, Godfather, stands for $13,750 in 2024.
