The Mark Zahra-ridden Vibrant Sun produced a gritty performance to capture the 2024 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on Saturday.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr., the daughter of The Autumn Sun defied a slight setback that forced her to miss the traditional lead-up race, the Auraria Stakes.
Despite the lack of a recent run, Vibrant Sun’s fitness from her victory in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) proved sufficient for the longer distance.
Zahra executed a masterful ride, taking the lead early and dictating the pace.
He skillfully guided her around the bend, conserving enough energy for a crucial late push.
On the home turn, reigning NZ Oaks winner Pulchritudinous challenged Vibrant Sun for the lead, briefly taking the advantage.
However, Vibrant Sun dug deep, regaining the lead with 250m remaining and holding off a strong finishing surge from the competition.
Two other The Autumn Sun fillies, Private Legacy and Coco Sun, rounded out the placings, finishing second and third respectively.
The pre-race favourite, Wings Of Song, saw her six-race winning streak snapped as she finished a respectable fourth.
“We always liked her,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr told Racing.com.
“Third-up, 2000 metres, straight to the front, huge effort by the filly.
“Missed a run in the Auraria, had a little set back, so massive job by the whole team back at home.
“What a gutsy effort by the filly. Huge run.
“She was there to be beaten.
“Awesome result for everybody.”
With her maiden Group 1 victory secured, Vibrant Sun may now be given a well-deserved break.
The decision on her participation in the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival features will be made later.
2024 Australasian Oaks Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | VIBRANT SUN | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Mark Zahra | 11 | 56kg | $6 | |||
| 2 | 12 | PRIVATE LEGACY | Gregory Hickman | Craig Williams | 0.1L | 9 | 56kg | $18 | ||
| 3 | 8 | COCO SUN | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Ms Jamie Kah | 0.2L | 3 | 56kg | $8.50 | ||
| 4 | 2 | WINGS OF SONG | Patrick Payne | Jake Noonan | 0.9L | 8 | 56kg | $5F | ||
| 5 | 1 | PULCHRITUDINOUS (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 1.5L | 6 | 56kg | $7 | ||
| 6 | 10 | QUICKSTER | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Blake Shinn | 1.9L | 12 | 56kg | $8.50 | ||
| 7 | 15 | BON MISTRESS | Ken & Kasey Keys | Daniel Stackhouse | 3.1L | 4 | 56kg | $151 | ||
| 8 | 7 | MOLLYNICKERS | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Ms Carleen Hefel | 3.3L | 13 | 56kg | $21 | ||
| 9 | 3 | POSITIVITY (NZ) | Andrew Forsman | Michael Dee | 3.7L | 7 | 56kg | $20 | ||
| 10 | 13 | INTO YOU | Shay Keating | Ms Alana Kelly | 4.2L | 10 | 56kg | $41 | ||
| 11 | 14 | THE AUTUMN BELLE | Henry Dwyer | Beau Mertens | 4.7L | 14 | 56kg | $61 | ||
| 12 | 5 | QUEEN OF DRAGONS | Peter & Paul Snowden | Damian Lane | 4.7L | 1 | 56kg | $11 | ||
| 13 | 9 | QALI AL FARRASHA (NZ) | Mark Walker | Billy Egan | 6.5L | 16 | 56kg | $41 | ||
| 14 | 11 | CONCELLO | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 6.6L | 5 | 56kg | $8 | ||
| 15 | 4 | SERASANA | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | John Allen | 9.7L | 2 | 56kg | $51 | ||
| 16 | 16 | INFINITY IMPERIAL | Liam Howley | Chad Schofield | 27L | 15 | 56kg | $201 | ||
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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