Third straight sires title for I Am Invincible

This article first featured in The Straight on July 31 2024.

I Am Invincible has claimed his third straight Australian Sires Premiership, after a season where he set a record with more than $32 million in progeny earnings.

The Yarraman Park Stud superstar never looked likely to be beaten for yet another sires’ title, having assumed the lead from So You Think at the start of November.

In the end he had $8.1 million to spare over second-placed Zoustar, the largest margin of victory since 2017/18. I Am Invincible had 175 winners for the season.

I Am Invincible becomes the third sire to win the Australian championship on three consecutive seasons this century, joining Snitzel and Danehill.

Widden’s Zoustar was Australia’s leading sire on individual winners, a record-equalling 208, as well as stakes winners with 17.

Champion first-season sire honours went to Darley’s Too Darn Hot, who also set a new mark with over $4.15 million in progeny earnings, headlined by multiple Group 1-winning two-year-old Broadsiding.

The son of Dubawi was also the leading freshman sire by Australian winners with 12, two more than Newgate’s Tassort and Widden’s Zousain. Pierata and Exceedance were the two first-season sires to have multiple stakes winners in their first crops.

Champion second-season sire honours went to Widden’s Trapeze Artist, whose progeny earned $6.6 million, $450,000 more than Arrowfield’s The Autumn Sun.

Both those sires ended their seasons with the most winners of their vintage – 45, while The Autumn Sun and Harry Angel finished on four stakes winners apiece.

Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock, who was pensioned this year, claimed his first broodmare sires title. The progeny of his daughters collected just short of $37 million, a record for a broodmare sire in Australia.

His win ends the nine-year dominance of Encosta De Lago and Redoute’s Choice as champion broodmare sires.

Among Fastnet Rock’s nation-leading 320 winners in that role are Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, multiple Group 1 winner Zougotcha, George Ryder Stakes winner Veight and Robert Sangster Stakes victrix Climbing Star. They are four of his 19 stakes winners.

Yulong’s Written Tycoon was Australia’s leading two-year-old sire both on progeny earnings – $5.1 million – and winners, 18.

The leading three-year-old sire honour went to Zoustar, with 65 winners and combined progeny earnings of $9.4 million.

In New Zealand, Waikato Stud’s Savabeel claimed his ninth sires’ title with record progeny earnings of NZ$4.9 million. He was also the leading sire on winners (40) and stakes winners (seven).

Fellow Waikato Stud resident Super Seth was champion first-season sire and The Oaks Stud’s U S Navy Flag won second-season honours.