Given a cosy run from an inside barrier, Flinders River made his supporters sweat as Craig Williams desperately searched for a seam in the straight, but when finding clear air the consistent Fighting Sun gelding ran out a dominant winner of Saturday’s VOBIS Gold Ingot (1400m) at Caulfield.
Carrying the colours of his breeder Sun Bloodstock, Flinders River defeated his stablemate Galactic Fury (Street Boss) by one and a quarter lengths with Sensationalisation (Written Tycoon) one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Flinders River advances his record to two wins and a third from six starts with earnings of $139,050.
Eustice said the powerfully built gelding will be given his chance at stakes level.
“He’s a pretty smart horse. He probably didn’t get out when he wanted to, when the gap came, he did not have a lot of time to pick up but he did.,” Eustice said.
“Credit to the team for getting the quinella and it’s great to get a win for Sun Stud they have been big supporters of the industry and they bred this horse by their sire.
Flinders River is the first live foal of winning Bradbury’s Luck mare The Copper Sun who is a sister to the very talented In Cahoots a dual Listed winner and 4-time Group placed.
The Copper Sun’s dam Hot Copper (Rory’s Jester) is a daughter of the crack West Australian mare Petite Armour (Prego) whose six stakes wins included the Group II Winterbottom Stakes and Group III VATC Schillaci Stakes.
Sun Stud sold The Copper Sun to Caithness Breeding for $16,000 at the 2018 Inglis Great Southern Sale when she was carrying a sister to Flinders River.
That filly was passed-in at the 2019 Inglis Great Southern Sale – Weanlings.
After foaling a Super One colt last spring, The Copper Sun was covered by Spendthrift Farms Bolt D'Oro (USA).
A son of Northern Meteor. Fighting Sun stood for six seasons at Sun Stud before his death from a colic attack last month.
