Charm Stone Romps in Manikato Stakes

Charm Stone (AUS) advertised her spring credentials when she returned from a spell with a brilliant victory in the Sept. 26 Manikato Stakes (G1) over 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) at Moonee Valley Racecourse, her second taste of group 1 honors. Having won the Sangster Stakes (G1) against her own sex in Adelaide last season, the daughter of I Am Invincible (AUS) took the leap into open company in her stride, defeating last-start Moir Stakes (G1) winner Baraqiel (AUS) by a cozy 2 lengths. Magic Time (AUS) was another half-length further away in third. Mick Price, who trains the mare jointly with Michael Kent Jr., said he was left scratching his head after Charm Stone made a second trip to Adelaide after her Sangster win when finishing in the second-half of the field in the Goodwood (G1). "She's a mare that needs the edge on her," Price said. "I thought she was pretty right when we ran her in the Goodwood last preparation, but she said 'no I'm not very right' and got out the back. "She's not a mare that I would back up (again)." Price resorted to preparing the mare from his stables without the usual process of sending the mare to a pretrainer. He said Charm Stone had not put a foot wrong throughout her entire preparation. "I've got to thank all the staff, we've got the East farm, the West farm," Price said. "They're all fantastic people. "There was a little bit of speed in front of her, Blake got off the fence at the right time. She's a beautiful mare and it's so great to see her win another group 1." A 10% share in Charm Stone was sold during the week for AU$310,000 at the Inglis Digital September Sale, which valued the mare at AU$3.1 million. After Friday night's success, that value is sure to have increased. "You couldn't put a figure on what she'd be worth as a broodmare," rider Blake Shinn said. "But it's great for the breeding industry. It's great for people who are investing in the game." Bred by Emirates Park, Charm Stone was bought by Seamus Mills Bloodstock for AU$1.55 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2022, making her highest-priced filly sold at the auction that year. The 5-year-old mare is the third living foal of the brilliant dual group 3 winner Najoom, who hails from the same family as group 1 winners Criterion, Comin' Through, and four other stakes winners. Now with two group 1s to her name, Charm Stone is Najoom's second stakes victor, having emphatically eclipsed listed-winning older sister Najmaty.