Imwonderfultonight set for Australian test

[Wandering Eyes]

Sam Mynott has been ticking up the air miles over the Tasman Sea this week and she is hoping it will all be worth it when she lines up her first horse in Australia on Saturday.

Imwonderfultonight (I Am Invincible), who races as Wonderful Tonight in Australia, has been a stable flagbearer for Mynott, highlighted by her maiden stakes success at Otaki earlier this month when taking out the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m).

Mynott was rapt with the result, with Imwonderfultonight having been stakes placed on three previous occasions, including the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m), Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1400m), and Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m).

A trip across the Tasman was in the works following her last start success, with the Queensland Winter Carnival firmly in the crosshairs, however, Mynott began to look for more immediate Australian assignments following her Otaki win, and Saturday’s Gr.1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville was identified as an ideal target.

“It was great to tick that (stakes win) off,” Mynott said. “She came through it really well. She was bouncing around after the race like she hadn’t even had a run, which gave us a bit more confidence in heading over to Adelaide.

“We had the Queensland Winter Carnival in-mind and we only looked towards Adelaide after Otaki. While she was up and going we thought it could be a good time to go over.

“She arrived (in Melbourne) last Wednesday and is at Andrew Forsman’s Flemington barn at the moment.

“She has settled in really well. She has been eating up as soon as she got there, she is really happy.”

Mynott was in Melbourne to help settle in Imwonderfultonight but has returned to New Zealand to oversee the final preparations of stablemates Aquilifer (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Persiflage (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) ahead of Saturday’s Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

“I got home last (Tuesday) night and will fly back to Adelaide on Friday,” she said.

“They are niggly draws. Aquilifer (11) will definitely start but we haven’t decided on Persiflage (14) yet and whether we just save her for another day, but I am happy with both of them.

“It is a strong field, but Aquilifer has been showing up and has been thereabouts in her runs, they have all been full of merit so far. I am looking forward to seeing what she can do.”

The pair will race in the colours of breeder-owner Ben Kwok, who also shares in the ownership of Imwonderfultonight with Windsor Park Stud.

The Singapore-based businessman has been a major backer of Mynott’s, with their association beginning just over a year ago.

“He has been so supportive and it is just brilliant to have him onboard and have these fillies performing for him,” Mynott said.

“Aquilifer came to me as a two-year-old before I got Wonderful. I started off with those two and it grew from there.

“I am super grateful for his support, he has been fantastic, and long may it continue.”

While excited for the weekend with Kwok’s trio, Mynott said she has a number of youngsters of his in her care that she believes have a bright future.

“He has a really nice two-year-old that I have just sent to the paddock, it is very exciting for the future,” Mynott said. “She is a Shamexpress out of Miss Montjeu, so she is a full to (Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes contender) December.”

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