High class sprinter Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) has had to overcome adversity as a younger horse to transform himself into a blue chip investment.
He won four races from Rodney Northam’s stable before he broke down as a 3-year-old and was transferred to Darren Weir to take advantage of his beach-training operation.
Voodoo Lad has subsequently thrived on the surf and turf regime and is a multiple Group 3 winner and top-flight placegetter, who on Friday night will take aim at the G1 Ladbrokes Manikato S., at Moonee Valley.
Voodoo Lad on his way to the beach with Jarrod McLean
Bargain buy
The majority share-holder in the gelding is Segenhoe Stud principal Kevin Maloney, who paid just $36,000 for the now millionaire galloper at the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale.
Segenhoe Stud principal, Kevin Maloney
Voodoo Lad is a son of the Salieri (USA) mare Sabrina Fair, who is a sister to the multiple Group 1 winning sprinter Schillaci.
“It’s unbelievable. He's the type of horse that everyone would want,” Segenhoe’s General Manager Peter O’Brien said.
“He missed the Moir S., and I know that day Darren was incredibly bullish but he had a stone bruise and couldn’t run.” – Peter O’Brien.
“He puts in every time. He missed the Moir S., and I know that day Darren was incredibly bullish but he had a stone bruise and couldn’t run.”
To be ridden by Mark Zahra, Voodoo Lad won the G3 Aurie’s Star S., three runs back and has been a minor placegetter in his following two outings.
“It's a very hot race on Friday and hopefully they clap the speed on and he can sit off them,” O’Brien said.
“You’d love to see him to sit off the speed and peel out and run home.” – Peter O’Brien.
“He is a horse that loves open running room. You’d love to see him to sit off the speed and peel out and run home."
“It is a proper Group 1 race, with the quality in it. But one thing you can guarantee with that horse, he’ll put his heart into every race he runs in.
“If you could buy a horse for $36,000 and still be racing at seven and basically get a cheque in every race, he's just a dream.”
“He'd be Kevin and Leslie’s favourite horse and rightly so.” – Peter O’Brien.
“He'd be Kevin and Leslie’s favourite horse and rightly so. He’s one of those war horse geldings, who can give all that excitement right through to seven and, who knows, maybe right through to eight.”
Voodoo Lad has won 11 races and O’Brien said all credit had to go to Weir.
“If there's one trainer, who can keep them going, it’s Darren. He rotates the horses through his stables and he keeps a lot of those older horses down by the beach. The horses’ minds are always challenged.
“The horses are always changing and moving. Whatever he's doing, he's a genius regardless and it's only one facet of what he does. He has the key for that type of horse.”
