MUM TO BE INFANCY READY FOR THE INVITATION
INFANCY will be racing for more than prizemoney when she lines up in Saturday’s $2m The Invitation (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has confirmed the six-year-old mare is in foal to nine times Group 1 winner Anamoe, and a Group 2 triumph would certainly boost her value when she is sold next year.
Dylan Gibbons, who won the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) for then three-year-olds at Randwick in March 2024 on Infancy, has the mount.
Infancy hasn’t raced since finishing an excellent fourth to Perfumist (again a rival on Saturday) in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at the Newcastle spring carnival on September 18.
She drew awkwardly that day, and has since won a Beaumont 1000m trial on October 12 in preparation for a tilt at The Invitation.
Whilst Infancy has never attempted the Randwick 1400m, she has won twice at headquarters, including the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) against her own sex in April last year when resuming.
“It’s a suitable race for Infancy against her own sex,” Lees said this morning.
“She trialled nicely earlier in the month, and will probably have a couple more starts before being retired.”
Infancy races in the Australian Bloodstock colours, and director Jamie Lovett says she will most likely contest the $1m Listed The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle on November 14 nearing the end of her racing career.
“Infancy (sired by Wandjina) has been a wonderful mare to us, wining over half a million dollars in prizemoney, but an unlucky mare as well,” Lovett said.
“She often draws wide barriers, gets back in her races and runs the fastest last 200m without winning.
“We bred her from a mare (we raced in Ireland, but couldn’t sell her as a yearling because she was small.”
Lees also accepted with Harrybegood in the $1m Group 3 Callander-Presnell (1600m) for three-year-olds at Randwick on Saturday, but this morning had not confirmed him as a runner.
“I’ll speak with his owner Mr Power today and then make a decision,” he said.
“He will run either go to Randwick on Saturday, or to Melbourne for the $500,000 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington next Saturday, also against his own age.”
Lees flew to Melbourne today to watch Under Focus in a straight track jumpout at Flemington tomorrow morning.
Blake Shinn will ride the talented colt, and also in next Saturday’s $2m Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Lees accepted with Cantiamo for Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting (switched from Doomben), but says she won’t run in the Class 6 Handicap (1110m) for fillies and mares, with the track already rated a ‘Heavy 10’.
Meanwhile, Lovett has confirmed Dylan Browne McMonagle will continue his association with Defiantly in Tuesday week’s $10m Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
The Irish jockey has partnered Defiantly in his last two overseas wins – both by margins, firstly at Goodwood on July 31 over 4148m, and the Prix Kergolay (3000m) at Deauville on August 23.
The French triumph gave the young stayer a “free ticket” into the Melbourne Cup, which Australian Bloodstock has already won twice, with Protectionist in 2014 and Gold Trip in 2022.
The Hunter-based syndicator also hopes to have Wine Dark Sea, and possibly Vauban, in the Cup.
Wine Dark Sea ran 11th in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (2400m), and appears to have recovered well, whilst Vauban, at his first start since running third in the Doomben Cup (2000m) in May, finished ninth in yesterday’s Geelong Cup (2400m).
Defiantly is currently an $11 second favorite for the Cup behind impressive Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law ($6).
STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 22, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
Comments