The sons of Invincible Spirit have strong chances to cover themselves in more glory as the season heats up with its first group 1 day Aug. 19, with not only the usual suspect I Am Invincible holding several trump cards but with leading British sire Kingman also in the mix to land the Randwick feature.
Exciting Maher-Eustace 3-year-old colt King Colorado will strive to claim Kingman his second Australian group 1 when—while still technically a 2-year-old—he takes on older horses in the weight-for-age Winx Stakes (G1) at only his fourth start, having taken Brisbane’s top-tier juvenile event, the J.J. Atkins (G1) last June.
King Colorado, who’s primarily on a Caulfield Guineas (G1) path, could become one of the stories of the spring.
Held back for his debut until late April, King Colorado won a Kembla Grange maiden at start two, then was pitched into group 1 grade, as a AUD$14 chance, and took the J.J. Atkins by almost a length with a powerful inside run.
He doesn’t technically turn 3 until Sept. 14, which omen hunters might know means he shares a birthday with Winx .
Initially a first emergency, but promoted into the field after Thursday’s scratching of Arapaho , King Colorado has been sent into today’s elite-level event first-up at career start number four against seasoned weight-for-age stars including Zaaki , Fangirl, and Mo’unga.
It’s an unorthodox early spring assault against older horses. In the past 20 editions of Sydney’s earliest weight-for-age race of the season, only one 3-year-old has started. Significantly, it was the 2009 winner Trusting , the Jason Coyle-trained colt who capitalized on the same light weight—50.5 kilograms—to be carried by King Colorado today.
Jockey Louise Day, who rode the colt in his first two starts and has a listed standard riding weight of 51 kilograms, resumes the reins today from his J.J. Atkins rider Jason Collett, who normally rides at 53 kilograms.
Irish expat Day has a chance for her first top-flight win after four previous unplaced rides at the top level thanks to King Colorado’s light impost, which co-trainer Ciaron Maher believes provides a strong chance for his burgeoning colt, who was a AUD$10 shot last night after a Rosehill barrier trial win last Friday.
“It is a big step up against the older horses, but it was either start next week carrying weight against his own age (in the Up And Coming Stakes), or he gets the weight drop against more experienced horses, which is the trade-off,” Maher told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“He was fairly raw and green last prep, but he seems a bit more professional now. He’ll improve a bit from the run, like they all do, but having had that winter prep and just needing a little freshen up—he looks fantastic,” said Maher.
King Colorado will jump from gate 3 at Randwick, which was yesterday rated a Heavy 8, but with sunny skies forecast for today.
The Winx’s high-quality field also features the long-awaited return from injury of Think It Over. Eight of the 16 starters hail from the Chris Waller stable, including resumptions for the trainer’s new acquisition Montefilia, Hinged, and Rosehill Guineas (G1) winner Lindermann, who caught the eye with a slashing barrier trial win Aug. 1.
