Vibrant Sun is eyeing the Group 1 Australasian Oaks after the daughter of The Autumn Sun ran down the game frontrunner Grinzinger Belle in Saturday’s Group III Dynamic Print Group Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Ridden by Thomas Stockdale for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Vibrant Sun needed to dig deep after the Shamexpress filly Grinzinger Belle had the field off the bit before the home turn.
The daughter of The Autumn Sun knuckled down to her task to claim Grinzinger Belle at the 50m to win by a half-length.
The Hellbent filly Vivy Air was four lengths back in third.
After winning a Geelong maiden by eight lengths last November, Vibrant Sun took the quantum leap to the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield, finishing tenth, five lengths behind the winner Joliestar.
A $260,000 buy for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA)/Mick Price Racing & Breeding from the Canning Downs draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Vibrant Sun advances her record to two wins and a second from six starts with earnings of $150,225.
“What is good about it is that she didn’t have black type and now she is a Group 3 winner.
“It is very good for Thomas Stockdale, too. Tom comes in and rides work. He’s a very promising kid who has had a lot of injuries. I’m very pleased for him.
“It was great to see him one-out and one-back. We joked that it would be nice to be one-out and one-back but when he actually got there I thought that was good and she was just good enough to pick up the win.
“She’ll go to Adelaide now, I imagine. We put a circle around the South Australian Oaks. She’s got a turn-of-foot, she’s cleanwinded, she’s sound.
“I brought her here on Tuesday and worked her by herself. She peeled off a 1200-metre gallop full of gusto and she’s got a great brain on her.
“I think that is the race we should have a crack at, but it is just a matter of how we get there.”
Thomas Stockdale said he went into the race full of confidence.
“I’ve probably never been so confident coming into a Group 3 on a filly that is on her way up,” he said
“I worked her during the week and she has gone from strength-to-strength. She’s still not quite there yet and I think she’ll be better over further.
“When the leader started to kick away, I was left slightly flatfooted without a drag up so more credit on her win. She had to do it on her own.
“I’ve been fighting like hell to keep my bum on her back. I knew she had the ability and I don’t think that is the end of her.”
Dermot Farrington Bloodstock/Canning Downs purchased Vibrant Sun’s dam Vibrant Rouge for $150,000 from the Woodside Park Stud draft at the 2017 National Broodmare Sale.
The daughter of Written Tycoon won eight races and over $456,000, highlighted by the Group II TTC Vamos Stakes, but her career at stud has been heartbreaking.
Her only other foal Yangarra Rose (Zoustar) won at Kembla and Wyong in eleven starts.
Vibrant Rouge has had three foals born deceased and missed three times in her first eight years. She was covered by Jonker last spring.
Vibrant Stud is the fourth stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun.
