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Honest galloper Invincible Gold returned to winning ways in style in the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1600m on Friday.
The I Am Invincible four-year-old, who last scored in a Kranji Stakes D race over 1400m in May, stood out like the winner from a long way out. A touch keen early, he was then eased into a perfect trailing position in third by apprentice jockey Shafiq Rizuan down the backstraight, and once he was peeled out to the outside rounding the home turn, there was no second-guessing where the top prize was heading.
With a lapful under him, Shafiq got Invincible Gold ($30) bursting clear inside the last 300m the moment he gave a few shakes of the reins, easily holding at bay a strong challenge from Know Each Other (Nooresh Juglall) to reach home with 1 ¾ lengths to spare.
Brahms And Liszt (Manoel Nunes) stuck on well for third another length away. The winning time was 1min 38.82secs for the 1600m on the Polytrack.
Winning trainer Cliff Brown, who was at a training double having earlier scored with The Mighty Thor in the opener, a $35,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1100m, said Invincible Gold deserved that third success from 16 starts for the Gold Stable.
“It was a richly deserved win. He’s no world beater but he’s been very consistent to us,” said the Australian handler who again did not fail to flash his trademark funny face at the cameras.
“He was always travelling well throughout the race and once he was brought out in the clear, he was never in doubt.
“It was only his second run on Polytrack but he’s handled it very well. That gives us a few more options.”
Invincible Gold had just the one attempt over the alternative track once when second to Invincible Man (another I Am Invincible progeny) in January.
Shafiq said the strong tempo helped his mount settle better midrace, and from thereon it was just a matter of pointing him in the right direction.
“The pace was strong and he was a bit keen behind the speed,” said Shafiq.
“But once he got some cover from the 1000m he settled better. At the 600m, I decided not to hold him anymore as it was time to move forward.
“Once he was clear, he was never going to lose.”
For a bread-and-butter horse, Invincible Gold has already brought up close to $140,000 in stakes money from his three wins and five placings for his owner Mr Yong Nam Seng of Gold Stable.