I Am Famous (AUS)
3 f I Am Invincible – Pinocchio by Encosta De Lago
O: The Yellowbrick Road Co Pty Ltd (Mgr: R J Visalli)
B: Wallings Bloodstock
T: Chris Waller
S: 2022 Australian Easter Yearling Sale V: Tyreel Stud P: The Yellow Brick Road Company / Mitchell Bloodstock, $2 million
W: TAB Plate, 1300m, June 5, Warwick Farm
The Chris Waller-trained I Am Famous (I Am Invincible), the most expensive yearling by dual champion sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) sold in 2022, opened her account at the sixth time of asking on Wednesday.
Ridden by James McDonald in the 1300-metre maiden at Warwick Farm, the three-year-old produced a good turn of foot in the Heavy 8 conditions to defeat Summer Soiree (Russian Revolution) by 0.2 lengths with a further two lengths back to the third-placed Sweet Proposal (Dundeel).
“She’s got a mind of her own and has not been easy,” McDonald said. “Today [Wednesday] I was able to get her into a lovely rhythm even though she was wide. She just needs to take a breath.”
I Am Famous was purchased by Ross Visalli’s Yellow Brick Road and Mitchell Bloodstock from the Tyreel Stud draft for $2 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2022.
The filly is a half-sister to 2020 The Everest (1200m) winner and $9.3million earner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) and also to Group 2 scorer Aethero (Sebring).
In winning Wednesday’s event, she became the fourth winner from as many foals out of Pinocchio (Encosta De Lago), a winning sister to champion miler and five-time Group 1 winner Racing To Win.
Tyreel Stud sold Pinocchio to Bromfield Park and Group 1 Bloodstock for $1.15 million at last month’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale, she was carrying a sibling to foal to I Am Famous.