Battledance Gives Invader Three from Three

While exciting young sire Invader (Snitzel-Flame Of Sydney) didn’t manage to win a juvenile before Christmas, his progeny have certainly highlighted their class with three individual pre-Christmas juvenile winners from just three runners to face the starter. With no other first crop sire having recorded more winners, and none arguably with a better runner to winner strike rate, those who have supported the Aquis based stallion should be excited about what is to come. He recorded his third individual winner when the Kacey Fogden-trained Battledance (Invader-Fascinatin' Rhythm, by More Than Ready) improved from his last start third to salute at Rockhampton on Monday, joining last Saturday’s impressive Morphettville metro winner Celtic Vader along with the Kevin Hansen-trained debut winning filly Sweet Fantasy. Invader himself showed his class from day one, finishing fourth in the Gr3 Breeders’ Plate before a fifth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Breaking his maiden in the February of his juvenile season, the stunning chestnut defeated future Gr1 winner Savatiano (Street Cry) before leading home a one-two-three result for his Champion Sire when winning the Gr1 Sires’ Produce Stakes before ending his juvenile season as a runner up to fellow Aquis stallion and exciting first season sire The Mission (Choisir) in the Gr1 Champagne Stakes. Covering over 380 mares in his first three seasons at stud, his first crop yearlings sold up to $550,000, a significant return on investment of 20 times his first crop service, clearly highlight the sale ring appeal of the progeny of the Champion 2YO Colt. Breeders set to offer yearlings by Invader at the 2022 yearling sales will have fingers crossed that the fine form continues with 11 on offer at the Magic Millions in January, followed by a further 22 at February’s Inglis Classic yearling sale.

Potential-laden young Aquis sire Invader (pic: Steve Hart)