James’s Delight Delivers Smart Performance on Debut
Trained by Clive Cox, Invincible Army’s son James’s Delight was professional and game to make a winning debut at Newbury in the Bet 365 EBF Novice Stakes for Paul and Clare Rooney on Saturday. He is a half-brother to the multiple winners Newmarket Warrior, Battle Pride and Livingston Range and the single winners Rule The Sea and Sea The Dawn. They are out of Heaven Peak, a Pivotal half-sister to the Gr.2 Great Voltigeur Stakes winner and sire Centennial, the Listed Salsabil Stakes winner Siren’s Song, and a full-sister to Nashama. The smart 2 year-old was bred by Newtown Stud and was purchased as a yearling at Goffs Sportmans sale for €55,000 by Kevin Ross Bloodstock.
Invincible Army was a high-class juvenile, successful in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes for James Tate and Saeed Manana, and finished second in the Gimcrack, Mill Reef and Molecomb Stakes. He carried that speed and ability over two further seasons, winning the Pavilion Stakes and coming second in the Sandy Lane at three. As a four-year-old he won the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes and the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes and was third to Fairyland in the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. His final start saw him finish fourth in the Gr.1 Prix de l’Abbaye behind Glass Slippers. The eight-year-old had 57 yearlings sold at auction last year for an average price of €57,680.
