Sun Stud's Fighting Sun has been firing on all cylinders of late and he has another likely type in the Matt Cumani-trained Western Sun who opened his winning account at the second time of asking in a 2-Y-O Maiden Plate over 1200m on the Pakenham Park synthetic on Friday.
Ridden by Michael Walker, Western Sun had to take the field up to the free-running Areyoulistening and had that Zoustar colt in his sights as the field wheeled for home.
When it looked as if Western Sun would race away for an easy win, Areyoulistening rallied and went down fighting by a long-neck
The $450,000 I Am Invincible filly Sensitivity was one and a quarter length back in third.
Cumani said the handsome chestnut would be kept in training to get a better gauge to where he measures up.
"You can see he still has a lot to learn. He looked almost like he did not want to go past that leading horse or when he got in front he was wavering a touch but I think he always had it in the bag and while it looked like that other horse was coming back I think our boy was knuckling down to it," Cumani said.
"He came to hand very early. We ran him in one of the first reverse trials at Ballarat. We were hoping to get him up to the Magic Millions – he showed a lot early.
"But he got a little injury in that trial so we put him out and brought him back so it probably hasn't done him any harm.
"Boomer Bloodstock bought him at the sales, I had nothing to do with the purchase but since coming into the stable he's been a lovely looking horse and one that is ready to do it.
"We might give him a little let-up, keep him in the stable ticking over for a bit. He could be anything, he will learn a lot from that but it's a bit difficult to get a line on how good he is but he has done nothing wrong in his first two starts so hopefully the skies the limit for him."
Consigned by Sun Stud to the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Western Sun (pictured as a yearling ) was knocked down to Boomer Bloodstock for $220,000, the highest-priced yearling by his sire at public auction.
He is the third foal and first winner for the accomplished racemare Westchester.
A 5-time Sydney winning daughter of Reset, Westchester was purchased off Darley for $105,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale before being onsold for $15,000 at this year's Inglis Great Southern Sale.
The sire of Thursday's impressive 2yo winner Battle Guardian, Fighting Sun will stand at Sun Stud in 2019 at a fee of $13,750.
