Bodyguard awesome in Maribyrnong Trial
I Am Invincible colt hands Harron his second juvenile stakes winner in as many weeks
James Harron couldn’t have wished for a better start to the season, as expensive colt Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) became the second juvenile stakes winner in as many weeks for the bloodstock agent’s powerful colts syndicate when he produced an impressive performance to win yesterday’s Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Flemington.
A son of Yarraman Park’s two-time champion stallion I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), Bodyguard was purchased by Harron from the draft of his breeders Emirates Park for $1.6 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year, making him the most expensive acquisition for the powerhouse agent at the 2023 yearling sales.
Despite having only been sighted in public once before yesterday’s race, all the signs were ripe that the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt was one to keep an eye on, mainly due to the form he showed in a barrier trial at Randwick on September 18. That day, the colt was beaten into second by another of Harron’s colts, Espionage (Zoustar), who subsequently franked that trial form when he went on to land the last Saturday’s Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) at Randwick.
The original plan had been for Bodyguard to take on the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Espionage in last week’s Group 3, but after drawing a sticky wide barrier, the decision was taken to wait for the Listed contest at Flemington and that plan was well and truly vindicated yesterday.
Ridden by Craig Williams, the two-year-old raced in the midfield in the early stages of the 1000-metre contest, before being asked for effort with 150 metres left to travel. The colt responded in fine style, exploding away from his rivals, comfortably beating Cerons (Street Boss) by two lengths. Altermatum (Zoustar), who was a $1.15 million buy at Magic Millions, finished a further quarter of a lengths away in third. Pre-race favourite, Blue Illusion (Blue Point), finished a disappointing ninth.
“It is great to see him do that today. It was a big ask to bring him here,” Harron said.
“Peter and Paul thought he’s got the right mind and he’s done everything right. He’s got a great constitution and if we were going to bring one here to tackle this race, he’d be the right one. Hats off to them.”
Harron said they would consider a trip to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) on January 13.
Williams said: “His attitude was unbelievable, he’s just very professional, which is what Peter [Snowden] said he was like from the first time he stepped into his yard after being broken in and you could see that today.
“He was very impressive today to feel as a jockey, loved his attitude and his ability.”
Bred in the purple, Bodyguard (2 c ex Tumooh by Fastnet Rock) is out of the unraced Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Tumooh, who is herself a daughter of Emirates Park’s 2014 Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Mossfun (Mossman).
Mossfun has produced two winners, headed by Group 3 scorer Dajraan (Frankel).
In 2022, Tumooh produced a colt by Newgate Farm’s Capitalist (Written Tycoon), but missed to Tassort (Brazen Beau) this season.
With yesterday’s victory, Bodyguard became the 99th individual stakes winner for I Am Invincible, while the colt became the 46th two-year-old stakes winner for the stallion. Later on in the afternoon, the sire chalked up a century of individual stakes winners when Jack The Lad took out the Murray Bridge Gold Cup (Listed, 1600m).
Off the back of a consecutive Australian Champion Sire title, I Am Invincible is standing for a career high fee of $302,500 (inc GST).