Options aplenty for talented Charm Stone after impressive Manikato triumph
Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) delivered on her immense promise under the lights at Moonee Valley on Friday night, powering home in the $1 million Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), securing her second elite-level win in commanding fashion.
Having won the Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) against her own sex in Adelaide last season, the daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) took the leap into open company in her stride on her seasonal debut and entered the conversation for some the country’s leading sprints this season.
The mare’s managing owner Sheamus Mills told ANZ News that the result was an extremely satisfying one, both for the ownership group and the mare herself, who has had her fair share of bad luck along the way.
“When you win a Group 1 against your own sex that’s good – but winning against all-comers in what would be widely regarded as a pretty hot field, I was very happy,” he said.
“It was a pleasure for me because I felt it was justified for her,” he said. “She’s been top class since she was two. Obviously as a two-year-old she had pharyngitis, and then chipped a knee as a three-year-old and missed a year of racing. So I just felt happy for the horse. She deserved to win at that level.”
Mills bought the mare from her breeders Emirates Park for a whopping $1.55 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2022, with the agent having rated her not only physically, but mentally.
He said: “She looked like an adult among children even at that stage and showed all the signs of dominance I like to see in a filly.
“Physically you do your best to split hairs, but I think the psychology is underplayed. At the end of the day they are athletes, and I think sport’s psychology extends to the equine. They’re herd animals, and if I see a horse who looks to display dominant behaviour – it’s something I try to decipher.”
Before Friday’s race a ten per cent of the mare was offered on Inglis Digital and sold for $310,000 which valued the mare at $3.1 million.
“There was one other ten per cent owner and he’s got other business interests and decided he thought it was good timing…whether that’s right or wrong you can argue both ways,” Mills explained. “He might have got the upside because she was about to run in a Group 1.
There has never been any doubt of Charm Stone’s talent, but the mare has had to overcome some significant bumps throughout her sometimes frustrating career.
A winner of the Ottawa Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) as a juvenile, propelling into early contention for the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m). The filly then went on to finish sixth in the Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr 2, 1100m) and then pharyngitis brought her juvenile campaign to a premature finish.
She returned as a three-year-old with a victory in the Quezette Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m), backing up that win with a triumph in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes (Listed, 1200m). After finishing fifth in the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), she was found to have a bone chip in her knee, which required surgery, leading her to miss the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and signalled another early end to a campaign which presented bundles of promise
Charm Stone’s consistency last season, which included a third place in the Rising Fast Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and a runner-up spot in the Magic Millions Cup (RL, 1400m), was well-rewarded when she broke through for her first win in the highest company in the Sangster in Adelaide.
With a second Group 1 now safely on her growing CV, Charm Stone’s spring campaign is being meticulously considered by her trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Mills said they have received ‘a fleeting enquiry’ from a slot holder for The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) at Randwick on October 18, but no plans have been set in stone for the mare, with the ownership preferring to let her dictate the best path this spring, a preparation which will likely finish in the Champions Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on October 8.
“There’s a race for her in Sydney [Sydney Stakes on Everest day] in three weeks, then in four weeks there’s the race at Moonee Valley [McEwen Stakes]— which is the path Imperatriz took when she resisted the offer to go to the Everest,” Mills said.
“Then three weeks after that it’s the Champion Sprint. Whether we see her again before that remains to be seen — it will be up to her pretty much. Her body language is quite expressive as to when she’s on song, so my conversation with Mick was: let’s wait until she’s bouncing around and feeling well. We’re not too worried about the calendar.
“The Sydney Stakes is a genuine good option on the same day that won’t have Ka Ying Rising in it, so that’s certainly there to look at. At the most we were going to have three runs for the prep, but she may only have two if she goes straight to the Champion Sprint.”
The fact that some of the best mares from recent times and yesteryear have won the Manikato is not lost on Mills. The race’s roll of honour includes Te Akau’s multiple Group 1-winning champion Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), subsequent Everest winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) as well as Miss Andretti and Sunline.
“It’s not a bad list. History only paints that picture. Often I’ll look at the history of a race and think my horse isn’t up to that level rather than trying to look at the present and see if you can beat the field. It’s often more of an advantage to go back and see what class of horses win the race.
“It’s been very satisfying. It’s a race that is steeped in history and quality,” he said. “All Group 1s are exciting, but I would put the Manikato in that class. I suppose at this stage it’s our crowning achievement.”
Charm Stone’s rise has been the textbook example of the investment model that Mills has championed: source well-bred fillies with athleticism and scope, then campaign them to add Group success to their value.
“Her future career will hopefully be on ice for at least 12 months,” he said. “That’s the archetype of our program. We’re trying to buy nice fillies with good pedigrees and increase their value. I guess she’s the pin-up for that.”