Oohood (3 f I Am Invincible – Bella Sunday, by Sunday Silence)

It is a rare occurrence that the Gavelhouse.com Maiden Of The Week is a Group 1 winner, but that is the case in this instance as serial bridesmaid Oohood (I Am Invincible) finally recorded the victory that had eluded her for so long, prevailing in a blanket finish to land the Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m)

Tony McEvoy’s filly was widely regarded as Australia’s best maiden going into Saturday’s race after placing in three Group 1 races as a juvenile, but the three-year-old was to shed that unwanted tag in emphatic style, charging late under Tim Clark to get up in the shadows of the post

Group 2 winner Fiesta (I Am Invincible) appeared to have the race at her mercy with just 20 metres to run but could not fend off the late thrust of Oohood, with Nakeeta Jane (So You Think), a previous Maiden Of The Week winner, also lunging late to snatch third.

Out of the dual race-winning mare Bella Sunday (Sunday Silence), Oohood is one of eight winners produced by her dam and is a half-sister to the stakes-placed filly Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet). Saturday’s victory took her earnings to $1,310,800 from 10 starts with one win and six placings.

Bella Sunday herself is a half-sister to Arrowfield Stud sire Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice), who is responsible for 59 stakes winners and eight Group 1 winners. She is also a half-sister to Group 2 placegetter Hanky Panky (Anabaa), who has produced three stakes winners, and Natural Is My Name (Naturalism), the dam of Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) and Blue Diamond (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up Zizou (Fusaichi Pegasus).

Oohood’s second dam is the well related Rory’s Jester (Crown Jester) mare Singles Bar, a half-sister to four stakes winners including Snippets (Lunchtime). Bella Sunday was covered by Sooboog (Snitzel) last November having produced a Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) colt last October. She also has an unnamed two-year-old by Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock).