Newgate Farm moved early to secure the best sons of red hot sire Snitzel with his Group I winning sons Sizzling and Wandjina already on the stallion roster and this season’s Group I winning three year-old colt Russian Revolution a work in progress, while exciting two year-old colt Invader has added his name to the list.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained two year-old showed his class early with a good fifth to Houtzen in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and then indicated a big win was imminent when beaten a short head into second place by Gunnison in the Group II ATC Todman Stakes.
Ridden a perfect race by Hugh Bowman in the $1million Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes, Invader enjoyed a good run just off the pace and surged to the line to win the 1400 metre contest by three-quarters of a length.
He defeated the Kiwi trained Group I winning Snitzel colt Summer Passage with yet another Snitzel colt in Trapeze Artist filling third place.
Hugh Bowman said that Invader missing a run in the Golden Slipper due to a foot abscess, could have been the making of him.
“It was a real shame missing the Golden Slipper but it may have been a blessing in disguise,” Bowman said.
“With the fillies winning all the majors this season that makes this horse the best colt of his era as a 2yo so that’s very exciting for connections.
“We drew a nice gate which enabled me to follow Tulip who I thought was one of the main dangers. When I needed him to move he was able to give me the extension that I needed and I thought he won with authority in the end.”
A $475,000 Magic Millions purchase for the China Horse Club from the Arrowfield stud draft, Invader runs for a syndicate that also includes Newgate Farm, Aquis Farm, Horse Ventures and US based WinStar Farm.
A half-brother to star Hong Kong sprinter Not Listenin’tome, the Michael Pitt-bred Invader is the third winner for stakes-winning Encosta de Lago mare Flame of Sydney.
Invader is one of 10 Group I winners for Snitzel, who had a Group I double on Saturday with his South African based three year-old Heavenly Blue taking out the Group I SA Classic at Turffontein.
Snitzel has emerged as the dominant sire son of the legendary Redoute’s Choice and Newgate Farm are strategically well placed to ride this sire dynasty into the next generation.