Champions Day looms for Invincible Ibis

Mark Newnham will now consider a Champions Day start for Invincible Ibis after the four-year-old’s win in Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby.

Newnham is weighing either the G1 Champions Mile or the G1 FWD QEII Cup, both on April 26, for the son of Hellbent.

“We’ll be looking at that as long as his recovery’s good from today,” Newnham said.

“But I’m probably more inclined to run him in the Mile. I just don’t think taking on Romantic Warrior and a few of the internationals at 2000m, I don’t think he’s seasoned enough for that yet, despite his win today and the time he’s run.

“He’s beating horses of his own age group, so I don’t think we need to throw him to the wolves just yet – horses can have a long career here, so there’s no need to be testing him too much beyond his limits.”

Invincible Ibis, sold by Widden Stud as a yearling at Inglis Classic for $80,000, was subsequently pinhooked for $425,000 by Kilgravin Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale.