The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Argentia produced an irresistible finishing burst to win the VRC Member Phillip Jacobsen Sprint while the Peter Moody-prepared Invincible Caviar (I Am Invincible) kicked on gallantly for third after making the play out in front.
Argentia is a daughter of the four-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), but Invincible Caviar’s mum Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) trumped that effort with the Champion mare collecting 15 elite-level titles during her unbeaten career.
Saturday’s 2-year-old contest was therefore an intriguing one and it was the Freedman stable that held bragging rights after their youngster produced a sizzling closing 200 metres to win going away by 1.75l.
“I thought she was very impressive. We wanted to ride her quietly and she finished off very well,” the Freedman’s Flemington Foreman, Steve Adams, said. “She’s a filly that’s always showed ability. You don’t expect to come here and see her win like that, but it was good to see her do it.”
“I thought she (Argentia) was very impressive. We wanted to ride her quietly and she finished off very well.” – Steve Adams
The camp expects Argentia to improve with time and over longer trips and is already eyeing major spring goals, the G1 Thousand Guineas among them.
“She’s out of Princess Coup, who got out to 2000 metres and beyond, so we’ll look for targets in the spring. The Guineas is probably the main target after this win,” Adams said.
Argentia was bred by Evergreen Stud Farm’s Tony Bott, who purchased Princess Coup for $3 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
After producing four winners, including G3 HKJC Premier Cup winner Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice), she was sent to the Northern Hemisphere for a date with Frankel (GB).
The resulting Argentia was offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and James Harron Bloodstock signed the ticket at $670,000 on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds. Princess Coup produced an I Am Invincible colt in 2020 and is in foal to Dundeel (NZ).
Argentia as a yearling
Filly answers positively
Argentia was ridden by the experienced Mark Zahra and he admitted that he wasn’t sure what to expect of the filly at Flemington.
“She has been trialling on wet tracks and I was struggling to get a feel for her. I’ve always had a bit of an opinion and she’s a horse that’s taken a bit of time,” he said.
“On dry ground and with raceday speed she showed her true colours. She was travelling well and it took a while to get her on the right leg and once I did that she was off and gone.”
Argentia with her strapper after winning the VRC Member Phillip Jacobsen Sprint
For blatantly obvious reasons, there was also major interest in the performance of Invincible Caviar and she gave a good account of herself for third. She eased clear 200 metres from home before wilting on her effort with Viviane (Written Tycoon) moving past her to grab second.
She too has a pedigree that makes easy reading and is a daughter of dual Listed winner Curtana (Exceed And Excel), a sister to Flamberge who was successful at Group 1 level in the William Reid S., Oakleigh Plate and The Goodwood H.
