Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Placed at his first three starts, Invincible Ibis was stepping up to 1400m for the first time and produced a powerful finish for Zac Purton, charging home from a clear last on the turn to win by two lengths running away.
“It was never going to be easy from gate 14,” Mark Newnham said,
“But his best performances have been when he’s got to the outside. It’s the best way to ride this horse.
“He’s always shown enough talent (for me to know) that when he’s got up to the right distance in the right circumstances, he’d put it together, and he put it together really well today.”
Invincible Ibis was a super successful pinhook for Kilgravin Lodge, sourced form the Widden Stud draft at Inglis Classic for just $80,000 by Kilgravin Lodge/ Waikato Bloodstock.
Invincible Ibis is the second winner from My Dear Friend, a winning half-sister by General Nediym to Aussie bred South African Group I winner Harry’s Son.
Sitting in seventh place on the Australian General Sires List, Hellbent has had a flying start to the season with two Group winners in Savvy Hallie and Magic Time, plus stakes horses Vivy Air and Fully Lit.
Hellbent is priced at $38,500 this spring at Yarraman Park.
