By Alan Carasso
Elite Invincible (Ire) (Archarcharch) hinted that there could be something under the hood when racing as Qatar Man during the early portion of his career, with a runner-up effort in last year's Listed Al Bastakiya S. over the dirt course at Meydan then a high-water mark when trained for his breeder Mubarak al Naemi by Marco Botti. Subsequently scooped up by the Elite Performance Stable for 150,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls July Sale, the Irish-bred son of US-expat sire Archarcharch has zoomed through the rankings since making a winning Singapore debut over the Polytrack last December and hit the heights Sunday with a narrow success in the S$1-million Charity Bowl, a steppingstone to the Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m) July 15.
Ideally drawn in gate two, Elite Invincible was hustled along by Vlad Duric and eventually settled handy to the pace from fourth down the back on the long course. Racing with cover on the turn, Elite Invincible was guided into the three path and came calling for the lead with about 200m to travel. Jupiter Gold (Aus) (Congrats) was there with every chance and stablemate Kingsman (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) rallied strongly down the center of the track, but Elite Invincible got there first to score for the fifth time in eight Kranji runs.
“We had a good draw and I got him into a nice spot on the back of Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven {Aus}) early,” said Duric. “I popped him off the fence before straightening, and he moved up beautifully. But I had a few anxious moments when we hit the front a bit too soon.”
Elite Invincible's third dam, Save Me the Waltz was a half-sister to Last Tycoon (Ire) and was herself responsible for US GISW Sense of Style (Thunder Gulch) and English GSW & MG1SP Valentine Waltz (Ire) (Be My Guest). The winner was sold in utero for $17,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale.
Sunday, Kranji, Singapore
GIOVANNI RACING CHARITY BOWL (2ND LEG SINGAPORE 4YO CHALLENGE), S$1,000,000 (£555,077/€631,598/A$988,951/US$736,065), Kranji, 6-24, 4yo, 1600mT, 1:34.31, gd.
1–ELITE INVINCIBLE (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Archarcharch
1st Dam: Dough On the Go, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Out of Woods, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Save Me the Waltz (Ire), by Kings Lake
(150,000gns HRA '17 TATJUL). O-Elite Performance Stable; B-Mubarak al Naemi; T-Mark Walker; J-Vlad Duric; S$595,000. Lifetime Record: SP-UAE, 14-6-4-1, $899,148. *Formerly Qatar Man (Ire).
2–Kingsman (NZ), 126, g, 4, Darci Brahma (NZ)–Society Lady (NZ), by O'Reilly (NZ). (NZ$80,000 Ylg '15 NZBSEL). O-Te Akau Racing Stable. S$212,500.
3–Jupiter Gold (Aus), 126, g, 4, Congrats–Contented (Aus), by More Than Ready. (A$130,000 Ylg '15 MMGCYS). O-Jupiter Gold Stable. S$107,500.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.00, 36.80, 5.00.
Also Ran: Only Win, Countofmontecristo (NZ), Could Be Pearls (NZ), Lim's Magic (Aus), Mr Exchequer (NZ), Lim's Regard (NZ), Claudia's Beauty (Aus), Meet and Greet (Aus).
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