An Invincible Season to Remember

With just four crops of foals running for him, all conceived at a fee of $11,000, the achievements of Yarraman Park's flagship sire I Am Invincible in 2016/2017 make for eye opening reading and he is poised for another big season with star mare Invincible Gem returning in hot form last Saturday to win the Group II ATC Missile Stakes.

I Am Invincible was Australia's leading sire by wins, posting one more than Snitzel with 100 less runners.

His 145 winners of 274 races amassed $12.1 million in prizemoney placing him fourth on the Australian General Sires List behind only Snitzel, Street Cry (IRE) and Fastnet Rock.

His 64.4% seasonal winners to runners is by far the best of any stallion in Australia and his winners include 11 stakes-winners of 19 stakes races headed by Group I winner I am a Star and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Houtzen.

I Am Invincible sired 29 Australian two year-old winners, his best result so far in this category with 49.2% winners to runners, again the best of any sire in the country.

I Am Invincible sired 53 three year-old winners at the astonishing winner to runner rate of 76.8%, again the best of any sire in the country.

"His results are all the more impressive when you consider all of these horses were conceived at an $11,000 service fee, which is a fraction of the fees commanded by his peers at the top end of the sires list," said Harry Mitchell.

"Having covered better quality books of mares since 2014, we believe he can get even better."

The Champion First Season Sire in 2014/2015, Hinchinbrook continues to establish himself as an elite sire and posted seven individual stakes-winners this season headed by Group II winners Derryn, Salsonic and Diamond Tathagata.

He was the leading third season sire by stakes-winners and wins and his 5% stakes-winners to runners for the season placed him behind only Snitzel, Redoute's Choice and Not a Single Doubt and marginally ahead of I Am Invincible on 4.9%.

His overall statistics after three seasons compare more than favourably with those of his illustrious three-quarter brother Snitzel, now the highest priced stallion in Australia.

A comparison of Snitzel and Hinchinbrook at the same point in their stud careers reveals very similar statistics and worth noting is that Snitzel stood initially at $33,000, while Hinchinbrook was priced at $16,500.

Both stallions had one Group I winner, both had sired seven two year-old stakes-winners and on the overall picture Hinchinbrook's 11 stakes-winners actually shades Snitzel's nine

"Hinchinbrook doesn't have the numbers of some other stallions as we limit him to around the 130 mark, but he has a massive upgrade in mare quality to come," said Harry Mitchell.

"I believe he will excel with these better mares as has his three-quarter brother Snitzel."

I Am Invincible and Hinchinbrook also made a splash in the important market of Hong Kong siring seven winners (from 10 runners)and five winners (from six runners) respectively.

I Am Invincible and Hinchinbrook both enjoyed sensational results at the yearling sales this year, particularly the former who had his first million dollar yearlings with colts from Captivating Claire, Streetcar Sheila and Soorena selling for $1.6 million, $1.5 million and $1.4 million.

"Yarraman Park achieved 100% clearance at the sales this year which was a great credit to our wonderful staff at the farm that make it all happen," Mitchell added.

"Our Medaglia D'Oro colt from Hoss Amor sold for $2.4 million at Inglis Easter, which was a real highlight and a fitting finale for our last sale at Newmarket."