Aussie sensation I Am Invincible makes it three Group 1 winners

Antipodean sire sensation I Am Invincible posted his third Group 1 winner on Saturday when daughter Viddora landed the Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Western Australia.

It was a deserved first top-flight success for the Lloyd Kennewell-trained five-year-old, who is owned by Kennewell with partners, as she was only a short-head second to She Will Reign in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley in September and was also runner-up in the Ubet Classic at Morphettville in May.

Viddora joins Brazen Beau and I Am A Star among the trio of Group 1 winners by I Am Invincible, a son of Irish National Stud stalwart Invincible Spirit.

The stallion has supplied 24 stakes winners in total, not including his third best offspring on Racing Post Ratings, Hellbent, who was a short-head second to Silent Sedition in the William Reid Stakes at the highest level.

'Only' a Group 3 winner himself, albeit one placed in Group 1 company, I Am Invincible started his stallion career at a fee of just A$10,000 but was the runaway leading first-season sire in Australia in 2013-14 and commanded a price of $110,000 this year, up from A$55,000 in 2016.

Viddora was bred by Riva Ridge Stud out of Snow Flight, a winning daughter of Colombia. The damsire was an exceptionally well-bred son of Zabeel and broodmare phenomenon Eight Carat who was bought as a yearling for NZ$1.6 million. He never made it to the track but was granted a chance at stud due to his illustrious bloodlines, and has sired Group 1 winners Addictive Habit and El Soldado.

As well as being a paternal granddaughter of Invincible Spirit, there is also European interest in Viddora's maternal pedigree, as her fourth dam, the Targowice mare Delagoa, was a half-sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Detroit, who also produced an Arc winner in Carnegie, and Cheveley Park Stakes scorer Durtal, the dam of dual Gold Cup winner Gildoran.

Viddora was a A$40,000 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling purchase, while her half-brother by Fiorente was bought at the same sale this year for A$30,000.