Vibrant Sun stays against the girls at Caulfield
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have elected to keep Vibrant Sun against her own sex as she builds towards a Group 1 assignment later in the Spring.
Vibrant Sun runs in the Catanach’s 150 Years Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday as she builds her fitness levels for the Group 1 Empire Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2.
Price and Kent Jnr had also entered Vibrant Sun for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) on Saturday where she would have been up against Another Wil and Antino.
“We’re building her towards the Empire Stakes third-up and it’ s a race which she can run really well in,” Kent Jnr said.
Vibrant Sun has been a good spinner for the Price and Kent Jnr yard.
A veteran of only eight starts, Vibrant Sun is a three-time winner with the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in April her main scalp.
Vibrant Sun burst onto the scene on the final day of the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival winning a Geelong maiden by eight lengths, before backing up a week later in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
The autumn was the time for Vibrant Sun to shine, and besides her victory in the Australasian Oaks she was also successful in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Vibrant Sun resumed her current campaign on a wet track at Flemington, finishing tenth in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) last month.
Price and Kent Jnr had contemplated starting Vibrant Sun in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on September 27 but reasoned more time between that first-up run and her second appearance would be more beneficial.
“It came up very, very quickly, 13 days after what was a run on a heavy, heavy track,” Kent Jnr said.
“She won her Group One in the autumn with a little bit of time between runs, so we thought we’d give her a bit of extra time leading into this run.
“That first-up run and then this run on Saturday should build her nicely hopefully to be third-up into the Empire Rose.”
More Racing News
Extragalactic's Flemington mission in McEwen Stakes
While many in the racing world will lament the closure of the old Moonee Valley track, trainer Trent Edmonds isn't lamenting the timing of its renovation.This Saturday marks the first Cox Plate meeting to be held away from 'The Valley', and Edmonds is set to be at Flemington with Extragalactic,...
Blind Raise's faith rewarded with Cox Plate start
Trent Busuttin is aware that if the primary goal was to secure a Group 1 victory, the more prudent strategy would be to send Blind Raise to Sydney for this Saturday's Spring Champion Stakes.Nevertheless, he also recognises that the type of opportunity that has arisen this year is not a...
Caulfield Cup fall victim Half Yours is back home and doing well
Good news has emerged regarding the riders involved in the Caulfield Cup, with the Victorian Jockeys Association reporting both have been discharged from hospital.Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil were transported to the Alfred Hospital after a dramatic fall during the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.The sequence of events saw Half Yours,...
Mr Brightside's Flemington Mile participation uncertain
The Lindsay Park training outfit, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, will hold off on confirming Mr Brightside's start at Flemington until the acceptance stage.Mr Brightside is expected to be nominated for the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile (1600m) this Saturday, though Ben Hayes indicated he is only...
Warwoven's Cox Plate Prospects to be Decided by King's Ride
Melbourne's racing scene is abuzz as Sydney jockey Rachel King prepares to reunite with Warwoven for a crucial track gallop. This workout is designed to give the final go-ahead for the Bjorn Baker-trained colt's potential entry into the esteemed Cox Plate at Flemington.King, who celebrated a Caulfield Guineas victory aboard...
Infancy's The Invitation prospects while in foal
Dual stakes winner Infancy is eagerly awaiting a potential start in the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick, a race that could significantly boost her career accolades before she transitions to her role as a broodmare.The six-year-old mare has recently been served by the promising young sire Anamoe. Her trainer,...
Tempted claims The Everest crown in thrilling renewal
The tenth running of The Everest delivered a familiar outcome at the top but with a new champion crowned, as Tempted outdueled Ka Ying Rising before a record-breaking crowd of 52,110.For trainer Ciaron Maher, this victory represents his second success in The Everest, building on Bella Nipotina's triumph in 2024....
Autumn Glow's flawless Sydney spring culminates in King Charles triumph
Autumn Glow smoothly assumed the lead in the prestigious Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) as the field turned for home, just as Ceolwulf began to mount a challenge.Trainer Chris Waller reportedly turned to jockey Darren Beadman and inquired, "Are we in trouble?" Beadman's swift reply was,...
Gavin Bedggood celebrates biggest win as Kingswood triumphs in Caulfield Cup
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has achieved his career-defining success with Kingswood winning the Caulfield Cup.The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday was claimed by the UK-bred import Kingswood, marking Bedggood's most significant achievement, eclipsing his previous best in the 2024 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.Bedggood, who was a proficient jumps...
Apocalyptic finds her best form in the Silver Eagle
While it was a supporting event on The Everest undercard, Apocalyptic's triumphant return to the winner's circle on Saturday was a considerable achievement for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.The mare, a Group 1 victor of last year's Flight Stakes, had been underperforming in the autumn and her initial...