Praise the Lloyd as Tiz Invincible triumphs in Tea Rose
Young jockey delivers exceptional ride on all-conquering daughter of I Am Invincible with Flight Stakes next
Ciaron Maher believes Tiz Invincible will have no problems handling the step up in trip for the Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) after the daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) once again proved herself to be the dominant three-year-old filly in the land with a consummate victory in yesterday’s Tea Rose Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Randwick.
Delivered by a peach of a ride by 19-year-old apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd, Tiz Invincible ($3.20) travelled within striking distance behind the early speed. In the straight, Lloyd took the brave decision beyond his years to gamble on the inside and track his nearest market rival Kimochi ($4) into the final 300 metres, before peeling off the heels of the daughter of Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom) and dispatching with her in domineering fashion to run away a length-and-a-half winner of the fillies’ Group 2 contest.
Tropical Squall (Prized Icon), who was sent off third pick in the market at $5.50, finished third, two and a quarter lengths from the winner who was never challenged.
Tiz Invincible is now unbeaten in three starts as a three-year-old, having returned this preparation with victory in the Rosebud Stakes (Listed, 1100m) against her male counterparts, before wins in the Furious Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and yesterday’s Tea Rose Stakes to claim legs two and three of the Darley Princess Series this spring.
“It was a bit of a test today, up to 1400 metres, but she relaxed beautifully and I’m really looking forward to the Flight Stakes,” Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, said.
“She has always shown us plenty, but I feel she has so much in front of her, she has so much developing to do.
“She’s still coming in the coat and she’s running better every time she comes to the races. She’s relaxing a little bit better and she even had a more explosive turn of foot today, she couldn’t be any more exciting.”
I Am Invincible’s fillies have proven dominant across the Darley Princess Series in recent years. His daughters Fiesta, Libertini and Dame Giselle won the Silver Shadow Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) in three consecutive seasons between 2018 and 2020, with the latter-mentioned filly going on to claim the Furious Stakes and Tea Rose Stakes before finishing fourth in the 2020 Flight Stakes, while Libertini also took the Furious Stakes in 2019.
Oohood, who as a juvenile finished second in the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) and third in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), broke through for victory in the 2018 Flight Stakes, defeating Fiesta by a head.
Tiz Invincible will be aiming to repeat last season’s feat of Zougotcha (Zoustar) in winning three of the four legs of the Darley Princess Series when she takes on the September 30 Flight Stakes at Randwick. The Chris Waller-trained daughter of Zoustar (Northern Meteor) won the Silver Shadow Stakes, before claiming the Tea Rose and the mile Group 1 feature a fortnight later in 2022.
The race also did no harm in raising the stocks of talented apprentice rider and Bart Cummings Medal winner Lloyd, who also rode the filly to victory in the Furious Stakes two weeks ago, and earned his fifth stakes win yesterday.
“He doesn’t ride like a claimer so it is not even a thing,” said Maher when asked about his booking of the inexperienced rider, who can no longer ride with a claim.
“His confidence and what he has been doing is right up with the best of them. He continues to show it, confidence is everything.
“It’s not very often you get the kids who make that transition seamlessly, like Nick Ryan and Blake Shinn who were very good apprentices and went straight on with it.”
Tiz Invincible (3 f I Am Invincible – Amuletum by New Approach), who in two juvenile starts finished fourth in the Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and second in the Percy Sykes Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), takes her race record to three wins from five starts with her prize-money haul standing at $673,000.
The filly was a $550,000 buy for Bahen Bloodstock, Eric Lucas, Astute Bloodstock and her trainer Ciaron Maher from the Segenhoe draft at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the second foal out of the British-bred winner Amuletum (New Approach), who is a half-sister to the nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe (Street Boss).
Amuletum, who was purchased by Dermot Farrington on behalf of Phoenix Thoroughbreds for 75,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Breeding Stock Sale, has a two-year-old colt by Pierata (Pierro) – a $200,000 buy for Justin Fung and Aquis Stallions at Magic Millions, a yearling brother to Tiz Invincible and is due to foal to Aclaim (Invincible Spirit) this spring.