Charm Stone grabs her first Group 1 in the Sangster
Brilliant but unlucky mare Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) repaid $1.55 million worth of faith from bloodstock buyer Sheamus Mills by storming to elite-level glory in Saturday’s Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Morphettville.
Despite being moderately rated for the fillies and mares’ WFA sprint as an $11 chance, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr–trained four-year-old flew home from the rear to win by 0.37 lengths under Mark Zahra.
Anthony and Sam Freedman’s three-year-old Ameena (Tassort) earned a Group 1-placing in coming second at $15, as did Godolphin filly Commemorative (I Am Invincible), who was third as one of three $6.50 equal favourites in an open affair. Co-favourites Stretan Angel (Harry Angel) and last year’s winner Climbing Star (Zoustar), both from the Phillip Stokes stable, finished ninth and 12th respectively.
Zahra’s win aboard Charm Stone completed a stunning stakes treble after he claimed the meeting’s other top-tier event on Benagil (Manhattan Rain) in the Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m), and the Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) on Legacy Bound (Ole Kirk).
And in becoming the 17th Group 1 winner for Yarraman Park’s triple champion sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) – in Australia’s only 1200-metre contest Group 1 for fillies and mares – Charm Stone brought the sweetest reward after a long and at times torturous journey for managing owner Mills and her trainers.
With his $1.55 million outlay, Mills made the Emirates Park-bred Charm Stone the highest-priced filly – and third top overall – at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale of 2022.
Charm Stone lived up to that rating almost immediately by taking Flemington’s Ottawa Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at her second start, before Zahra’s first involvement brought a disappointing sixth as $2.15 favourite in the fillies’ Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr 2, 1100m).
Missing the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), she returned from a spell with wins in Caulfield’s Quezette Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) and Moonee Valley’s Atlantic Jewel (Listed, 1200m).
Her immense promise confirmed, she was a $6 chance next start in Rosehill’s Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m), but after she ran a 1.03-length fifth when cramped for room, a significant bone chip was discovered in her knee.
It would be 13 months till she raced again, but she fell short of reproducing her finest form on return last spring, the best of three runs being a close third in Flemington’s Rising Fast Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m).
However, a first-up 0.8–length second in January’s rich Magic Millions Cup (RL, 1400m) hinted she was back.
And after a 14-week gap she burst back to winning form first-up on Saturday – to the delight of connections. It took her earnings to near her purchase price, at $1.34 million, but the boost to her value as a broodmare counts for several times that amount.
“I’m really, really pleased for the mare and the owning Group,” Price told Racing.com. “It’s very, very satisfying to get a Group 1 for those guys.
“The mare has deserved it. She ran in the Golden Rose, ran super, couldn’t get a run, got beaten a length and a half, and chipped a knee.
“We gave her all the time she needed. She was a sizeable filly at the time. She just needed time.
“To Sheamus’s credit, when we discuss things, he listens and he’s always been patient, and they’ve reaped the benefit of all those decisions.
“We’ve got a good horse, a good rider and a good team at home.”
Price said Charm Stone’s Gold Coast second was the catalyst for targeting a Group 1 coronation in the Sangster
“She’s always been a good mare,” he said. “When she ran second at the Gold Coast, Sheamus said, ‘What about the Group 1?’
“He’s always chasing the best he can do for those broodmares and all these fillies that he buys.
“I said, ‘Mate, we’ve got the right horse to do it’. It was a long range plan. We just gradually brought her up. It’s very pleasing.”
With one Group 1 in the bag, Price said Charm Stone would now attempt to add a second, in Adelaide’s premier race, the set weights and penalties The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m), in two weeks.
The stable will also be represented in that $1 million event by three-year-old colt Reserve Bank (Capitalist), winner of the Tobin Bronze Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) earlier on Saturday’s card.
Zahra was delighted with his day’s work, and particularly the run of Charm Stone, who went back from barrier 11 of 14.
“Yeah it’s special. I had a bit of luck this time last year, and more luck this year,” said Zahra, after his 35th Group 1 triumph.
“I drew wide. I just said I’m going to leave her alone and get into a nice rhythm. I didn’t travel that well actually. I had to give her a click up to tack up, and she did. She got hooked up to the back of them, the further the race went the more confident she grew, and I was able to save the best for the finish.
“For her to have that time off, and the setbacks, and get her back and get her for a Group 1 – it’s alright when you’re three, but when you get older you take the older horses on. She’s done that today and won at the highest level.”
Charm Stone is the third living foal of the brilliant dual Group 3 winner Najoom (Northern Meteor), who hails from the same family as Group 1 winners Criterion (Sebring), Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock) and four other stakes winners.
Now with four black type successes, Charm Stone is Najoom’s second stakes victor, having emphatically eclipsed Listed-winning older sister Najmaty.
Najoom’s yearling sister to Charm Stone fetched $425,000 for Emirates Park when bought at Magic Millions Gold Coast this year by trainer Peter Snowden with Trilogy Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock.
A half-sister by Capitalist (Written Tycoon) was retained by Emirates Park after being passed in at Inglis Easter last year. Now named Nazwah, the two-year-old won a Randwick barrier trial for Snowden on Thursday.
After missing to Justify (Scat Daddy) in 2023, Najoom is now in-foal to Emirates’s co-owned stallion Tassort (Brazen Beau), who stands at Newgate Farm.