Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) advertised her spring credentials when she returned from a spell with a brilliant victory in Friday’s Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at The Valley, her second taste of Group 1 honours.
Having won the Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) against her own sex in Adelaide last season, the daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) took the leap into open company in her stride, defeating last-start Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) winner Baraqiel (Snitzel) by a cosy two lengths. Magic Time (Hellbent) was another 0.3 lengths further away in third.
Price said he was left scratching his head after Charm Stone made a second trip to Adelaide after her Sangster win when finishing in the second-half of the field in the Group 1 The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m).
“She’s a mare that needs the edge on her,” Price said. “I thought she was pretty right when we ran her in The Goodwood last preparation, but she said ‘no I’m not very right’ and got out the back. She’s not a mare that I would back up again.”
Price resorted to preparing the mare from his stables without the usual process of sending the mare to a pre-trainer.
He said Charm Stone had not put a foot wrong throughout her entire preparation.
“I’ve got to thank all the staff, we’ve got the East farm, the West farm,” Price said. They’re all fantastic people. There was a little bit of speed in front of her, Blake got off the fence at the right time. She’s a beautiful mare and it’s so great to see her win another Group 1.”
Shinn was celebrating his birthday on Friday and to win a Group 1 made it all the more special.
He said seeing former jockey Gary Willetts, who was associated with Manikato in the presentation area brought back a lot of memories.
“She was dominant,” Shinn said. “She pinged the lids, got a great trail, and got out at the turn. She put the race to bed, and it was a phenomenal win.”
From barrier two, Shinn said he went into Friday night’s race with an open mind.
“We had a discussion pre-race to jump positive, have a little bit of intent for the first 50 [metres], and then just play it by ear,” . Looking at her replays, she’s got very good gate speed and we wanted to utilise that, but then just ride the horse to run well.” Shinn said.
A ten per cent share in Charm Stone was sold during the week for $310,000 at the Inglis Digital September Sale which valued the mare at $3.1 million.
After Friday night’s success, that value is sure to have increased.
“You couldn’t put a figure on what she’d be worth as a broodmare,” Shinn said.
“But it’s great for the breeding industry. It’s great for people who are investing in the game.”
Bred by Emirates Park, Charm Stone was bought by Seamus Mills Bloodstock for $1.55 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2022, making her highest priced filly sold at the auction that year.
The five-year-old mare is the third living foal of the brilliant dual Group 3 winner Najoom (Northern Meteor), who hails from the same family as Group 1 winners Criterion (Sebring), Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock) and four other stakes winners.
Now with two Group 1s to her name, Charm Stone is Najoom’s second stakes victor, having emphatically eclipsed Listed-winning older sister Najmaty.
A half-sister by Capitalist (Written Tycoon) was retained by Emirates Park after being passed in at Inglis Easter last year. Now named Nazwah, the filly broke her maiden at Gosford in July.
Najoom produced a colt by Emirates’s co-owned stallion Tassort (Brazen Beau), who stands at Newgate Farm.