Trans-Tasman Double - Tower Bridge Impressive

A highly regarded colt, Tower Bridge (3 c I Am Invincible – Palace Talk, by Street Cry) recorded a stylishly second start victory in the A$45,000 Transome Marine Services Maiden 1230 metres on 12 December at Geelong (Victoria).

Having drawn out to win by two lengths when trialling on 30 October at Caulfield, Tower Bridge finished fourth after racing behind the leaders in a compact field on debut in the Maiden 1000 metres on 12 November at Caulfield, and rated a top three chance from barrier five.

Ridden by Lachlan Neindorf, who scored for the stable aboard debutante Royal Rendezvous (Royal Meeting) last Sunday at Werribee, Tower Bridge headed off a competitive early pace to lead, travelled on an even keel at good work, appeared to have the measure of his rivals at the 400m, and could hardly have been more impressive as he quickened away to win by three and a half lengths.

“He knows he’s on a smart one, the colt by I Am Invincible, Tower Bridge absolutely trotted in, said the commentator.

It was a very promising victory and confirmed the belief of Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM when buying him as a yearling.

Continuing a fine run of recent winners for Te Akau Racing, Tower Bridge ran 1230 metres in a slick 1:10.9, last 600m in 33.6, on Good3 footing, and paid $4.30 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a good effort to travel like he did in front and quicken up like a really nice horse in the making,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“We’d been tinkering with his gear and we got it right today, after Ben (Gleeson) and I had experimented a bit in training with him.

"We decided to use his high cruising speed and he went along at a nice gallop, but he really quickened up when Lachlan (Neindorf) asked him to, and it should give him a lot of confidence to go on with it.

“I think we’ll look for a city class race for him, now, but great to have a promising horse like him win in the famous Coolmore Stud colours, and the powerful ownership, and I’m very grateful for all the support that Coolmore has given us since we arrived in Melbourne.”

For an illustrious group on owners, and carrying the Coolmore colours, Tower Bridge was purchased by Ellis and Tom Magnier for A$1.3 million at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Yarraman Park, and he is owned by Coolmore, Wynaus, Westerberg, Mr J Poulin, Sir P J Vela, Chris Waller Racing, Lynque, Peachester Lodge Pty Ltd, Mr R McClure, Marcstown Pty Ltd, Meridian Bloodstock, Lockhart Waller Racing, Glentree Racing, Mr K MacLennan, Yarraman Park Stud, Gall Bloodstock.

Ellis and Magnier struck early in the sale (Lot 19) when buying the colt by reigning Australia Champion Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), the sire of Te Akau Racing headline act and ten-time Group One winner Imperatriz, whom Ellis also purchased on the Gold Coast.

Standing at Yarraman Park, the three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible stood at A$220,000 for the 2025 season in Australia, having originally been $49,500 when commencing in 2016.

Tower Bridge is out of a mare by international stallion Street Cry (Machiavellian), a Dubai World Cup winner, who famously sired the greatest of all time, Winx – 25 Group One wins.

His dam Palace Talk, a dual winner over 1200 metres, has now left four winners of 13 races, including Group 2 winning brother Shuffle Dancer (I Am Invincible), who won the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) for three-year-olds, quadruple Group 3 placed sister Forbidden City (I Am Invincible), and the multiple Group and stakes' placed winner of six races, Never Talk (No Nay Never), who also finished fourth in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) as a three-year-old filly.

The grand-dam, Doduo, is by breed-shaping stallion Danehill (Danzig), who provides an outstanding influence in any pedigree. Doduo was a speedy mare and proved herself as a producer with eight individual winners of 23 races.

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: “We were firm in our desire to buy him, as he’s such a high-quality individual.

“He’s in the mould of his sire, I Am Invincible, whose progeny continue to do such an incredible job on the race tracks.

“It’s an outstanding pedigree and it’s a very progressive family that has already left plenty of black type winners.”

Yarraman Park Yearling manager Lance Forbes added: “He’s a strong, athletic colt that moves well and looks like he’ll get up and run early.

“He’s got a great head and girth, and fantastic attitude to match it all.

“He’s one of the most easy-going colts I’ve ever dealt with, to be honest. He’s got a lovely nature and lovely kind eye.

“I think the owners will have a lot of fun with this horse; he’s a beautiful animal.”

Tower Bridge carries a Danzig cross, on the sire line of I Am Invincible and dam line of Palace Talk.

Tower Bridge was strapped by Felicity Monteleone.

Main picture - Tower Bridge as a Magic Millions' yearling