Ciaron Maher looks to have a smart filly on his hands in the shape of Indaza (I Am Invincible) after she got off the mark at the fourth time of asking in a 1100-metre maiden at Sale on Wednesday.
The filly was making her return from a spell, having not been seen since January, and she showed no signs of inexperience, coming home strongly to beat Liberami (Turn Me Loose) by 1.5 lengths with Suppose I Do (Supido) finishing a further 0.02 lengths away in third.
Indaza was bought by Bill and James Mitchell of Mitchell Bloodstock for $600,000 from the Shadwell Dispersal at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. The filly then fetched $900,000 when purchased by owners Kia Ora Stud from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale the following year.
The filly is out of Ektifaa (More Than Ready), who was herself bought by Shadwell for $600,000 at the 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, and for whom she landed four of her starts for the operation in South Africa, headed by her triumphs in the 2016 edition of the Choice Carriers Championship (Gr 2, 1400m) and the 2017 Tony Ruffel Stakes (Gr 3, 1450m).
Having bought Indaza in the weanling section of the National Sale in 2021, Kia Ora continued their investment in the family when splashing out $1.7 million for Ektifaa herself.
In breaking her maiden on Wednesday, Indaza became the second winner out of the mare, with her Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained brother, Ikasara, having scored on debut at Rosehill on April 27. Ikasara was a $800,000 purchase for his trainers and TFI at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Ektifaa herself is out of winning Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) mare Stellar Vinia, who is a half-sister to New Zealand Group 1 winner Calveen (Canny Lad), Group 2 scorers Kosi Bay (Spinning World) and Fireworks (Snitzel), who in turn produced Listed winner Millane (Zoustar). Stellar Vinia also counts Listed scorer Striker (Van Nistelrooy), the dam of Group 3 scorer First Impressions (Rip Van Winkle), among her half-siblings.
Earlier this year the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Indaza’s half-sister by Kia Ora Stud resident Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) was purchased by Redgum Racing for $400,000.
Last year, Ektifaa produced a filly by Yarraman Park stallion I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), who is on track to be crowned Australia’s champion sire for the third successive year. The mare was mated to the now pensioned Darley stallion Exceed And Excel (Danehill) last October.
Story by ANZ
