The $160,000 Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich on Saturday attracted a good selection of well bred fillies and mares on the hunt for Black Type and victory went to progressive I Am Invincible filly Naifah.
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
Offered at the Gold Coast by her breeder Emirates Park, Naifah had three starts on her resume that included a stakes-placing in the Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes and the two year-old was snapped up by Silverdale Farm/Andrew Williams Bloodstock.
Transferred from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable to the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, who also put the polish on her close relation Charm Stone, Naifah has been on an upward spiral this year.
She won the Group III SAJC Proud Miss Stakes in Adelaide last month and was having her second run in Brisbane on Saturday with Emily Lang to ride.
Naifah was sent forward from a wide gate to lead and stayed there. She slipped away at the furlong and was not for catching with Manolo Bling chasing hard for second a length back and blueblood Zoustar mare Silver Wedding gaining some valuable Black Type for third.
The win capped a big day for Lang, who earlier won the Ipswich Cup on Kaluakoi.
"I couldn't have pictured a better day. It started off a little bit tricky early on, but I have to thank my manager for helping me pick up this ride,” she said.
“It's hard to get those opportunities but when you do, you hope to keep the ball rolling. Hopefully I can get a few more opportunities now."
"I thought I might've fired her up a touch too much, because she was a little bit keen. But at the end of the day, she had the class edge over her rivals and was just too good.
Naifah will now head back to Melbourne and has the overall record of three wins and four placings from 13 starts with prizemoney topping $300,000.
Bred by Emirates Park, Naifah is the first foal of Najmah, a metro winning half-sister by Snitzel to $2.6million earner Charm Stone and also stakes-winner Najmaty from Group III winner Najoom.
Najmah has a yearling filly by Harry Angel (IRE), a weanling filly by Tassort and is in foal to Ole Kirk.
There are plenty of fillies in this family being bred to the best sires and everything about Naifah suggests she is going to be a very valuable addition to the Silverdale Farm broodmare band.
Naifah is one of 11 stakes-winners this season for champion sire I am Invincible, who stands at Yarraman at a fee of $220,000 this spring.
