With three of the six starters, Spirit Of Boom had a stranglehold on Saturday’s Butler McDermott Lawyers Bruce McLachlan Classic (1000m) at the Sunshine Coast, and they duly clocked in 1-2-4.
To the delight of punters, Ryan Maloney scythed between runners on the odd-on favourite Defiant Spirit, who lengthened impressively to defeat the filly De Sonic Boom by one and three-quarter lengths. It was a further neck back to the Invader filly Kitri who spoiled the Spirit Of Boom party when relegating the winner’s stablemate Spirit Of Brodie for third.
Trained by Stuart Kendrick, Defiant Spirit advances his record to two wins and a second from three starts, and his trainer believes he should be unbeaten.
“He just had no luck the other day, so it was good to see him do that today,” Kendrick said.
“We just wanted to get a nice win on the board with him, so it was great to tick that box and now we can think about the summer and possibly a crack at the Magic Millions 3YO Classic.
“He’s only a little fella, but we think he’s a nice horse, and once he’s grown and filled out a bit, he might be a very nice horse.”
Ryan Maloney said there are better days ahead for Defiant Spirit.
“It’s the first time I’ve been on board, and I was impressed with him,” Maloney said.
“He was quite stiff the other day not to win, so I was pretty confident coming here today.
“Once we rolled off the fence, he put paid to them quickly.
“There’s a lot to like about him, he’s got plenty of scope, and he could have a very bright future.”
Defiant Spirit was a $100,000 purchase for Kendrick Racing/Archer Park when consigned by Eureka Stud to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bred by Black Soil Bloodstock, Defiant Spirit is the third winner from five to race for the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes winner Defiant Dame (More Than Ready).
A half-sister to the Group III MVRC Red Anchor Stakes winner Hidden Warrior (Hidden Dragon), Defiant Dame was a $260,000 purchase for Harry McAlpine Bloodstock from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale.
Archer Park Racing had the final say at $160,000 for a brother to Defiant Spirit consigned by Eureka Stud to the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
After slipping in 2021, Defiant Dame visited Encryption last spring.
.jpg)
