It was a very good return to the winners enclosure for our quality 5 year old I Am Invincible mare FIESTA when she powered to the line in the 1,200 metres Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. The winner of the Group 3 Widden Stakes as a 2 year old and the Group 2 Silver Shadow as a 3 year old, FIESTA was a big winner of the 2019 $1 million Inglis Sprint for 3 year olds during Sydney’s Autumn racing carnival that year. With a number of excellent runs through Brisbane’s winter of racing several months ago, FIESTA showed that she was ready for more racing during the spring carnival in Melbourne.
A barn storming 3rd in the Group 3 How Now Stakes at Caulfield three weeks ago gave a hint to her performance on Saturday, but it was a masterful ride by Hugh Bowman which enabled FIESTA to win Saturday’s Group 3 from barrier 11. He ensured that the mare was close to midfield throughout and whilst she sat wide, he made sure that she travelled well within herself and with cover. FIESTA handled the notorious Caulfield corner with apparent ease and in the straight she balanced and then charged to the line with the determination she has displayed often throughout her career in a great return to form. The winner of $1.4 million to date the mare looks to be in very good form and hopefully she can add to her tally in coming weeks. FIESTA is now enjoying several days of R and R as she has her head down in the beautiful pasture at Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm.
Congratulations to the winning FIESTA owners Paramount Racing (Manager: Kathryn Wood), Andrew Grant-Taylor, Nielma Grant-Taylor, Wayne Haylen, Ron Bell, Chris Olliver, Henderson Racing & Breeding (Manager: David Henderson), Rhonda Henderson, John McCrimmon, Bruno Calabro, Boeara Holdings (Manager: Denise Dunphy), Ray Aurisch, Helen Aurisch.