Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Godfather was purchased by Harron for his colt syndicate for $1.1 million at this year’s edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
History will tell you that any yearling who realises seven-figures at public auction is sure to garner a certain amount of attention and Godfather did little to buck this trend, lining up for his debut as the well-fancied $1.45 favourite.
After smoothly running through the gears, the son of I Am Invincible gave his supporters not a moment of worry, eventually pulling clear to beat Cifrado (Encryption) by a comprehensive and comfortable 2.26l.
Godfather as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Harron was of course impressed with the performance itself, but he told TDN AusNZ that he was also taken with how the 2-year-old handled the pressure of a trip away from Peter and Paul Snowden’s Sydney-based stable to Queensland for the Listed race, which bodes well, especially given the colt will highly likely make the same pilgrimage again in January for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Should the colt line up in the $2 million race on the Gold Coast he will be attempting to hand Harron a second victory in the race, having landed it first with subsequent G1 Golden Slipper S. winner and now Newgate Farm resident Capitalist in 2016.
“He (Godfather) was really good,” he said. “This was his first trip away and in terms of travelling to Queensland, he handled the process really well and settled into the stable brilliantly.
“He took everything in his stride and ticked all the boxes in terms of what you want to see a horse do, especially given that he is going to go back to Queensland hopefully to contest the Magic Millions in January.
“He took everything in his stride and ticked all the boxes in terms of what you want to see a horse do, especially given that he is going to go back to Queensland hopefully to contest the Magic Millions in January.” - James Harron
“We have found over the years it’s great to bring young colts on and they really gain a lot from the experience. It seems to toughen them up a lot. I guess it’s like young teenage boys when they go away for a trip and they come back a bit older, a bit wiser and a bit tougher, this is no different.
“It was a great opportunity to take him up there because the track was beautiful, it was a 1000 metres and he was just coming off one soft 900-metre trial, so it was the right distance for him.”
When one studies Godfather’s pedigree it doesn’t take long to work out how he made seven figures on the Gold Coast almost 12 months ago. Bred by Yarraman Park, the colt is by their resident sire I Am Invincible, who was crowned Australia’s Champion Sire for the first time after the sale. He is out of G2 Angus Armanasco S. winner Meliora (Ad Valorem {USA}), making him a brother to superfast G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) winner I Am Immortal, whose exploits on the track earned him a place on the Swettenham Stud roster.
James Harron | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He is by I Am Invincible, who obviously gets good, fast, precocious horses. He’s done really well and is a horse that has progressed massively from the sale to now. His brother was a very precocious, early 2-year-old, so I suppose he profiles up the same way,” explained Harron.
Godfather was one of three colts by I Am Invincible to make $1 million or more at the Magic Millions Sale earlier this year and Harron said his pedigree, physical appearance and attitude during the inspections meant he was a ‘must-have’.
“A lot of people would have liked him at the sale. He was a well-bodied horse, very forward and he kept thriving throughout the sale,” said Harron. “He has a fantastically fast colt's pedigree, which is what we are after and he came off one of the best farms in Australia. He profiled up as a must-have for us and we are very happy with him at this point.”
“He (Godfather) has a fantastically fast colt's pedigree, which is what we are after and he came off one of the best farms in Australia. He profiled up as a must-have for us and we are very happy with him at this point.” - James Harron
Harron said no concrete plans have been made for the 2-year-old, but in the immediate future he will head back to Sydney on Sunday and he and the Snowdens will start plotting a path towards the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in the coming days.
“He is going to travel back to Peter and Paul’s stable in Sydney tomorrow (Sunday) and then they will give him an easy few days and we will catch-up and have a team meeting and see what they want to do,” said Harron.
“They are amazing trainers, who are very good with their 2-year-olds, and I think they will get a bit of guidance from the horse in the next two days and will work out a pathway from there, so it’s a bit of an open book at present.”
Godfather returns to scale after winning the Listed Phelan Ready at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Given Saturday’s performance, there is no doubting the colt’s talent, but Harron believes the most exciting aspect about him is that there is clearly more in the locker.
“The early, precocious horses are very natural and they put their hands up. I think this horse is still working it out and is still learning. He is still a little rough around the edges and that is probably the most exciting thing, because he is by no means the finished product just yet,” he said.
“He (Godfather) is still a little rough around the edges and that is probably the most exciting thing, because he is by no means the finished product just yet.” - James Harron
“I think there is a lot of progression in the horse and hopefully we will learn a bit more about that in the coming weeks.”
