Lloyd Kennewell undertook a modern way to sell shares in I Am Unstoppable and interest in the son of I Am Invincible has continued long after the Cranbourne trainer put up the ‘sold out’ sign.
But the most recent bids have come from clientele different to those who were initially attracted to the colt who is now one of the most exciting sprinters in the country.
Kennewell bought I Am Unstoppable out of the Newgate Farm draft for $65,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and offered shares via twitter with the horse fully subscribed in a matter of hours.
But the 12 individuals and eight syndicates who have their names in the racebook are now being offered much more than what they bought-in for by people who recognise I Am Unstoppable’s value if he can win the races Kennewell and his co-trainer Lucy Yeomans have set him for.
“It’s still early days, but there are plenty of people watching him,” Kennewell said.
“There’s been interest from people that are keen to acquire a little share in the horse for a fair sum of money, but there are also (stud) farms watching to see what happens in the next start or two before the Coolmore.
“They all want to get involved for the sheer fact that they’re potentially buying into an investment as a stallion prospect.
“This horse is an investment at this stage. He’s worth money now no matter what, but it’s a matter of what level I guess, so we’ll see where we end up.”
The preparation is being geared around the $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 4.
I Am Unstoppable resumed with a fast-finishing third, beaten a half-neck, in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 19, his first defeat after two wins as a two-year-old, including the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m).
He runs in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington, which will be a stepping-stone to the $300,000 Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) on October 7.
They are races Kennewell dreamed of getting I Am Unstoppable him too, despite x-ray issues that deterred most at last year’s Magic Millions January sale.
I Am Invincible was hurtling towards the first of two-straight Australian Champion Stallion titles at that time, with the Yarraman Park stallion averaging $541,591 at that Gold Cost sale off a $247,500 service fee.
I Am Unstoppable, who is out of the Pierro mare Satin Slipper, a daughter of Group 2-winning Coolmore Stud Stakes placegetter Satin Shoes, was I Am Invincible’s only yearling at that sale to sell for less than $100,000.
“Obviously he had x-ray issues but they were things that, after I got him vetted by my vet, I could live with,” Kennewell said.
“I told people, ‘he’s obviously got a couple of things (not 100 percent) but I’m not worried about them’ and I knew if they went the right way he’d be fine.
“He hasn’t had a sore day since.”
The Poseidon Stakes shapes as a Coolmore Stud Stakes preview with Golden Slipper placegetter King’s Gambit, beaten Blue Diamond favourite Barber, Sunlight’s $3 million brother Kandinsky Abstract and jaw-dropping debut Bendigo winner Pivot City among the other acceptors.
