Vibrant Sun just held on in a brave effort showing true grit to salute in the 2024 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained daughter of The Autumn Sun was third-up and fit despite a little set back having missed the traditional Oaks lead-up in the Auraria Stakes.
Even without the extra tune-up, she was too good for her rivals up in distance after winning the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last time out on March 23.
One of the country’s best hoops, Mark Zahra, took over riding duties in the Group 1 and timed his run to absolute perfection.
The filly did the early work to press forward and lead.
She went on to do it from barrier to box thanks to Zahra cuddling her around the bend and leaving enough in the tank for the finish.
Vibrant Sun was joined on the home turn by last start NZ Oaks winner Pulchritudinous, but the eventual winner wouldn’t give in easily only losing the front running for a stride or two.
She regained the lead 250m out giving a good fight and kicking well before holding off the late challengers in a game effort.
Two fellow The Autumn Sun fillies ran in the placings with Private Legacy narrowly denied finishing second, while the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Sun ran third in a photo to complete the Australasian Oaks trifecta.
Patrick Payne’s Auraria Stakes champ Wings Of Song meanwhile ran fourth as the beaten favourite with her six-straight winning streak coming to an end.
“We always liked her,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr told Racing.com post-win.
“Third-up, 2000 metres, straight to the front, huge effort by the filly.
“Missed a run in the Auraria, had a little set back, so massive job by the whole team back at home.
“What a gutsy effort by the filly. Huge run.
“She was there to be beaten.
“Awesome result for everybody.”
Having raised the bar to celebrate her maiden Group 1 success, Vibrant Sun may now be given a break and not sent to Queensland for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival features.
“We’ll just take stock, she doesn’t have to go anywhere now she’s a Group 1 winner, but well work it out on Monday,” Kent Jnr said.
2024 Australasian Oaks Results & Finishing Order
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | VIBRANT SUN | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Mark Zahra | 11 | 56kg | $6 | |||
2 | 12 | PRIVATE LEGACY | Gregory Hickman | Craig Williams | 0.1L | 9 | 56kg | $18 | ||
3 | 8 | COCO SUN | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Ms Jamie Kah | 0.2L | 3 | 56kg | $8.50 | ||
4 | 2 | WINGS OF SONG | Patrick Payne | Jake Noonan | 0.9L | 8 | 56kg | $5F | ||
5 | 1 | PULCHRITUDINOUS (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 1.5L | 6 | 56kg | $7 | ||
6 | 10 | QUICKSTER | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Blake Shinn | 1.9L | 12 | 56kg | $8.50 | ||
7 | 15 | BON MISTRESS | Ken & Kasey Keys | Daniel Stackhouse | 3.1L | 4 | 56kg | $151 | ||
8 | 7 | MOLLYNICKERS | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Ms Carleen Hefel | 3.3L | 13 | 56kg | $21 | ||
9 | 3 | POSITIVITY (NZ) | Andrew Forsman | Michael Dee | 3.7L | 7 | 56kg | $20 | ||
10 | 13 | INTO YOU | Shay Keating | Ms Alana Kelly | 4.2L | 10 | 56kg | $41 | ||
11 | 14 | THE AUTUMN BELLE | Henry Dwyer | Beau Mertens | 4.7L | 14 | 56kg | $61 | ||
12 | 5 | QUEEN OF DRAGONS | Peter & Paul Snowden | Damian Lane | 4.7L | 1 | 56kg | $11 | ||
13 | 9 | QALI AL FARRASHA (NZ) | Mark Walker | Billy Egan | 6.5L | 16 | 56kg | $41 | ||
14 | 11 | CONCELLO | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 6.6L | 5 | 56kg | $8 | ||
15 | 4 | SERASANA | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | John Allen | 9.7L | 2 | 56kg | $51 | ||
16 | 16 | INFINITY IMPERIAL | Liam Howley | Chad Schofield | 27L | 15 | 56kg | $201 | ||
19e | SHUT THAT D’OR | Garret Lynch | Sairyn Fawke | 0 | ||||||
18e | SEEKING STARDOM | Andrew Gluyas | 0 | |||||||
17e | HARVEST MOON | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Winona Costin | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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