Search

show me:

Holyfield stays the distance

3 minute read

Wins The Schweppervescence becoming 55th stakes winner for his sire.

HOLYFIELD winning the Schweppervescence.
HOLYFIELD winning the Schweppervescence. Picture: Steve Hart

Fresh off the back of their victory in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) with Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) last week, Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis Farm once again advertised their two-year-old firepower when Holyfield (2 c ex Hurtle Myrtle by Dane Shadow) took out the The Schweppervescence (Gr 3, 1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Last week's winner was saddled by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, this week it was over to the in-form team of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and they were handed their 21st juvenile win of the season, while the victory also provided the Yarraman Park-based sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) with his 55th stakes winner. 

Last seen finishing ninth in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), the two-year-old colt was coaxed to lead by in-form visiting British jockey Tom Marquand, eventually coming away with a three-quarter length victory over Untamed (Pierro). 

The colt will now be aimed at the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m). 

"He put him in the race and left it out there and the horse was good and tough," Maher said.

"He was there to be beaten but he was just too strong.

"He travelled back up to Sydney where he's spent most of his career and together with a good ride from Tom Marquand he is building a nice record. 

"If he can knock off a big one he is a very valuable colt."

Marquand has made his mark for the Maher-Eustace team, having won two stakes races on two-year-old colt, Prague (Redoute's Choice), in Sydney this year and also the Widden Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) on Away Game (Snitzel). 

"We don't ever want Tom to go home. Hopefully he's stuck here for a while," said assistant trainer Annabel Neesham, who was representing the stable at Rosehill. 

Meanwhile, Marquand, who celebrated the first Group 1 win of his career last weekend when the William Haggas-trained Addeybb (Pivotal) landed the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), said the race worked out perfectly for the colt. 

"As soon as the other horse joined him in the last 250 to 300 metres he battled the whole way to the line," Marquand said.

"There was never a moment's doubt."

Purchased by his owners for $800,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Segenhoe Farm draft, Holyfield is out of 2011 Myer Classic (Empire Rose Stakes) (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow), who has produced two other winners. 

The colt's third dam Winds Of Peace (Bletchingly) is the dam of Listed winner Whisper Bay (Royal Academy), who in turn produced fellow Listed winner Indian Thunder (Manhattan Rain), while Winds Of Peace is also the granddam of Group 3 winner He'll Haunt Us (Time For War). 

This is the second stakes winner produced on the I Am Invincible / Dane Shadow cross with the other being Group 2 winner Strasbourg. 

I Am Invincible has 48 yearlings catalogued at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, which will be now conducted online from April 5 - 8.


Racing and Sports

Sponsors

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au