A brilliant five year-old son of I Am Invincible, Caballus has always shown Group I ability, but the path to an actual G1 win has been anything but smooth.
Caballus had a good year in 2025 racking up three stakes wins and one of them was at Flemington last November over the straight six inspiring his trainer Bjorn Baker to have a throw at the stumps in the $2million Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
That throw hit the target when he hit the front under a positive ride from Craig Newitt and held off all challengers to win by a long neck over the roughie Gallant Son with Angel Capital in third place.
Race favourite Tentyris found the task of carrying 57kg beyond him finishing fifth beaten a length and a half.
“Bjorn has done an amazing job with him and Darby (Racing) who picked him up as an on-line purchase. He did a good job as a colt, but he wasn't performing to his level,” said stable representative Luke Hilton.
“We gelded him, gave him time and he's gone from strength to strength with each preparation. The more Bjorn has been able work with him, the better he's got and he's really improved over the last six months and he's a Group 1 winner. It's a great achievement by the team."
Caballus is the fourth Newmarket Handicap winner for Craig Newitt, who has also won the prestigious sprint on Miss Andretti, Shamexpress and The Quarterback.
Caballus has the overall record of seven wins from 20 starts with prizemoney topping $2.1million.
Raced by Coolmore and partners initially, Caballus was a $1million Inglis Easter purchase for Tom Magnier from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft and was broken in and educated at Coolmore.
He was then offered through Inglis Digital in October 2023 when bought by Darby Racing for $315,000.
Bred by Reg Ryan, he is the best of five winners from five to race from Group III placed Commands mare Calming Influence, a daughter of stakes-winner Calming.
Calming Influence has a yearling filly by Ole Kirk that will be offered at Inglis Easter as Lot 244 by Alma Vale Thoroughbreds and has a filly to follow by Zoustar.
Caballus is the 18th Group I winner for I Am Invincible.
