Gerry
Harvey's homebred I Am Invincible filly Libertini won the second leg of the
Darley Princess Series at Randwick on Saturday, showing tenacity as well as
ability when powering to the line to score a determined victory over gallant
Villami in the Group II ATC Furious Stakes (1200m).
The Gerald Ryan trained Villami made the pace in front and slipped away after turning for home, but when Tommy Berry asked Libertini for her top gear she was able to overhaul the daughter of Foxwedge to score a short neck win in a slick 1:09.22.
The win was not as dominant as when she strolled away with the Group II ATC
Silver Shadow Stakes two weeks ago, but it was a win nevertheless."She was up to the task. We've won the second leg of the Princess Series," said Anthony Cummings.
"I think the way the races have played out today it favoured horses on speed. Watching the race I thought she was a length too far off them. There was a fair bit of merit in what she did."
Libertini runs for Gerry Harvey and John Singleton and has the impressive record of four wins and a second from five starts with prizemoney just shy of $400,000.
The Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 21 is the third leg of the Princess Series and is next on the agenda for Libertini. It will be her first try at a distance beyond 1200 metres and is likely to establish whether she pushes on the 1600 metre fillies races or sticks to sprinting.
Libertini is a serious blueblood being the third winner from three foals to
race from Group I ATC Coolmore Classic winner Aloha, a half-sister by Encosta
de Lago to the dam of Group II winner My Emotion. This is the famed 'Tennessee'
that has also produced recent Group I winners Seabrook and Malaguerra.She has some fascinating line breeding in her pedigree with double ups of Bletchingly and Danzig as featured in this previous story.
Gerry Harvey will be pleased to see Libertini achieving so much as Aloha has a yearling
filly by I Am Invincible to follow and has already foaled this spring producing
a colt also by I Am Invincible.
Yarraman Park's flagship sire is fully booked this spring at a fee of $247,500 and will cover Australian Horse of the Year Winx among a galaxy of star mares.
