The Listed MRC Doveton Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday produced a long overdue Black Type win for talented I Am Invincible five year-old Garza Blanca, who was gelded prior to his current preparation.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Craig Williams, Garza Blanca has always shown good ability and produced a career best performance to win by half a length at his second run back from a spell.
The heavy track might have raised a potential issue, but Garza Blanca got the desired result.
"There was a little bit of concern, the surface is probably not ideal for him, but I thought the horse was very right,” said Ciaron Maher.
"He's a horse with a lot of ability and it was a great ride by Craig. It was a little bit of a nervous watch there towards the end but very good (result).
"He's had a few little issues, he's been gelded, but I actually got a bit nervous when I saw the heavy hitters were here - Neil (Werrett) and Gerry (Ryan) - they all turned up and I thought, 'gee, we better make sure we've got everything right here'.
"I think he will go right on with it now, he's a pretty good horse."
A $700,000 Magic Millions purchase from Vinery Stud for International Thoroughbred Solutions, Garza Blanca has a big syndicate of owners that includes his breeders and has the overall record of four wins and five seconds from 15 starts with prizemoney topping $426,000.
Garza Blanca is a half-brother to stakes-placed Easy Dun and is the best of two winners from Mousai, a winning half-sister to champion sprinter and G1 sire Starspangledbanner and three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Amicus, the dam of Group winners Okita Soushi and Chief Little Rock.
Mousai has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and after having a year off in 2023 has been covered this spring by Ole Kirk.
Garza Blanca is the 111th stakes-winner for Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible.
It's a prolific Black Type family and there are 10 yearlings entered for upcoming sales that have Garza Blanca in their pedigree.
