Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible posted his 203rd winner of this season at Sale on Thursday and it came with a debut winning two year-old filly from the Price/ Kent Jr stable.
Semelle Rouge was a short priced favourite for the 1110m maiden taking on older rivals and gave Beau Mertens an easy steer to power home and win by the best part of a length after a drama at the barriers with a runner next to her playing up and making for a tense beginning.
The talented filly kept her cool despite the delay and was all business when the gates opened.
“The speed was very, very genuine. Those two went off running and from the wide gate I was able to get in behind them and just get a nice trail. We had a beautiful run in transit and she travelled up extremely well to the top of the straight and I knew she was going to catch those horses in front of her pretty easy,” said Beau Mertens, who revealed how well the filly kept her poise in the gates when trouble started.
“She was terrific actually. I've only got on her once before and she was quite a hot filly, but she stayed composed today when that horse went over right beside her.
“I got her out of there really quickly. Even with the delay, she walked around and kept herself very calm. She was very much the professional today, and it probably helped her win.”
Passed in as a yearling at Magic Millions by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, she was then sent across to New Zealand for the NZB Ready to Run Sale and was purchased by her trainers for $275,000 with her breeders remaining in the ownership.
She is the third winner from three foals to race from Group III winning Snitzel mare Lubiton, who was on-sold in 2024 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000 to Ridgeport Holdings.
Longwood Thoroughbred Farm sold a yearling filly by I Am Invincible from Lubiton at Magic Millions this year for $250,000 to Eric Koh/Falcon Racing and she produced a Zoustar filly last year for her new owners, but then unfortunately missed to Brave Smash (Jpn).
Semelle Rouge is the 15th 2YO winner this season for I Am Invincible and comes from a crop that bristles with potential and is headed by Group I winning colt Vinrock, plus four more stakes-winning fillies My Gladiola, Inkaruna, Blue Hotel and Hi Barbie.
I Am Invincible is priced this spring at $220,000.
