The Chris Waller trained stablemates Invincibella and Noire ran the quinella in the Group 2 $200,000 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill today.

Invincibella, above with white cap, and Noire, purple cap, quinella the Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Only a nose separated Invincibella ($9) and Noire ($8) after both mares came from well back in the field while the $51 outsider Magic Alibi and the $2.60 favourite Champagne Cuddles dead heated for third, two and a quarter lengths away.

Winning jockey Hugh Bowman settled Invincibella in the middle of the pack after jumping from barrier six in the twelve horse field while Tommy Berry was further back after coming out of gate town.

Bowman waited until half way down the straight before easing Invincibella to the outside with Berry stalking his every move on Noire.

James McDonald had the favourite Champagne Cuddles in the firing line for most of the way from the inside gate but she couldn’t hold out the run on horses at the finish and battled on to dead heat for third.

Waller said that he would try to keep the two mares separated now throughout the Spring Carnival but that Invincibella would likely head towards the Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill in a fortnight.

“She’s (Invincibella) been a really good horse, she’s just gradually taken steps all the way through her career and that’s what an owner wants and that’s what a punter sitting at home wants,” Waller said.

“She very rarely lets us down if she gets condition to suit, doesn’t always happen, but she’s an exciting horse to train.”

“She (Noire) is a year younger than Invincibella so I think the best from her is still yet to come and the beauty of the Spring is that there is so many options, we’ll try and find nice races without clashing.”