Hellbent is enjoying a career best season and it extends to Hong Kong with a winning double at Sha Tin on Sunday featuring first time winner Snowthorn and exciting four year-old Invincible Ibis, who is heading towards the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on February 1.
The Mark Newnham trained gelding posted his fourth win in a row, charging home from the back of the field under 61kg to win the Class 3 Handicap over 1600m by a neck with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Invincible Ibis is yet to miss a place in seven starts and has bigger fish to fry over the next few months.
“Invincible Ibis was very straight forward. I didn’t expect to be so far back but I was reluctant to pressure him just to hold a position and he enjoyed being left alone,” Bowman said.
“I was in a position – to avoid traffic – that I had to make a long run on him and he coped with that, too.
“And when I needed his effort at the 100 metres mark, he did it with consummate ease.”
Newnham said: “He’s putting up quite a good record now and the nice part about the race was when it got a bit tough and he had to stretch the last part to beat Beauty Bolt, he did. So, he’s got good ability, but he’s got good heart.
“You can only keep winning and he’s put four together now, so he goes there (Hong Kong Classic Mile) in good form.”
Purchased by his trainer for $425,000 at the NZB Ready to Run Sale, Invincible Ibis was a super successful pinhook for Kilgravin Lodge, sourced from 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.
Hellbent is sitting in eighth place on the Australian General Sires List by earnings with 64 winners of $8.5million with four stakes-winners Savvy Hallie, Magic Time, Boston Rocks and unbeaten two year-old colt Zip Lock, who will be hard to beat in this Saturday’s $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Hellbent is already on top of the Australian 2YO Sires List coming into the race as he has two winners this season and in addition to Zip Lock has another exciting colt in Revengeance, who was third on debut in the Group III ATC Breeders’ Plate before winning the $1million ATC Golden Gift.
The current crop of yearlings by Hellbent are from his most expensive book of mares to date when his fee was raised to $38,500 from $22,000, so there is real reason to think he can set a new benchmark for himself in the sale ring this week.
At the Magic Millions last year 11 of his yearlings averaged $211,818 and there are 21 to be offered this week that are sure to be in strong demand.
