Sun set to shine in the Australasian Oaks

Mick Price is looking to add another South Australian Group 1 feature to his trophy cabinet when he saddles Vibrant Sun in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville.

Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr at Cranbourne, has won three of South Australia’s four Group 1 races on multiple occasions.

However, he has won the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) on just one occasion, with Gallic, ridden by Craig Newitt, in 2009.

Price and Kent Jnr have together won the South Australian Derby with Jungle Magnate and The Goodwood with Lombardo, both in 2022.

However, they will have to wait a little longer to attempt to claim a Robert Sangster Stakes (also run on Saturday) as they don’t have a runner.

Price said lightly raced filly Vibrant Sun enters Saturday’s Australasian Oaks in good order having won the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 23 at her most recent start.

However, Price said he would have liked to have given the filly one extra run in Saturday’s race.

“She did miss a run through a bit of capsulitis, but we did give her a 1200-metre tick over trial, so I think I’ve caught up,” Price said.

“She’s clean-winded, sound, and I think she ready to run well.”

Vibrant Sun has raced once at Group 1 level, finishing tenth in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in November.

That day the filly was dropping back in distance to 1600m after racing to an eight-length romp in maiden company at Geelong over 1715m a week earlier.

On the strength of that win and being by The Autumn Sun, sire of Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Autumn Angel, Price said the 2000m trip should be no concern for Vibrant Sun.

“I think the 2000 metres will be alright for her and those The Autumn Sun fillies stay on,” Price said.

“We saw one of them win the Oaks in Sydney and this filly, she was strong over the mile and was strong through the line.”