Second in the G3 MRC Blue Diamond Preview (F) on debut before third in the G2 MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (F) behind eventual G1 MRC Blue Diamond winner Streisand, Te Akau Racing’s 3yo I Am Invincible filly I Am Aria resumed on Wednesday, breaking her maiden at Bendigo for trainer Mark Walker.
In the small field of just seven, jockey Michael Dee had I Am Aria settled in second position after jumping from barrier three with Lady Molly leading after going forward from the inside gate.
Extremely short in the market off her form, I Am Aria travelled sweetly in second position and as the field headed into the home straight, she chased down the leader under hands and heels riding before going for home.
Drifting back towards the inside rail, I Am Aria wasn’t shown the whip, and while the eventual second placed Novamira made up plenty of ground late, the well-bred filly, being a daughter of G1 winner Unforgotten, never looked as if she would trouble the winner.
With a win and two placed efforts from four starts, the daughter of I Am Invincible was a $450,000 purchase by David Eliis and Te Akau Racing from the Sledmere Stud draft at the Inglis Easter yearling sale.
Bred by Barneswood Farm Ltd, I Am Aria is the third winner from three to the races out of the Listed-winning O'Reilly mare Talaria, a sister to G1 Doncaster winner and Newgate Farm stallion Brutal from the family of three time G1 winner Provence (Savabeel).
After foaling I Am Aria, Talaria unfortunately missed to Wootton Bassett (GB) before foaling a filly by Farnan before not being covered in the spring.
I Am Aria is bred on the successful I Am Invincible x O’Reilly pedigree cross which has produced 17 winners from 19 runners led by the G3 winner Catch Me and the Listed winner Fuld’s Best.
The sire of 127 stakes winners led by 19 G1 winners including last season’s Champion First Season Sire Home Affairs, the Yarraman Park based I Am Invincible will stand this season at a fee of $220,000 (inc. GST).
