Fiorente's Lunar Flare Opens Stakes Account

Mark Smith - Sunday September 26

Promoted to favouritism following the scratching of Degraves, the Grahame Begg-trained Lunar Flare staged a last to first performance in Sunday's $160,000 Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington.

Michael Dee threads the needle on Lunar Flare (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Michael Dee, the 6yo daughter of Fiorente (IRE) was happy to lob along at the tail of the field. Instead of coming wide around the home turn, Dee elected to thread the needle between runners. Lunar Flare picked up the bit and charged home to defeat last year's winner High Emocean (Ocean Park), by three-quarters of a length, with the Group II Adelaide Cup winner Good Idea (So You Think), one and a quarter length back in third.

"She likes to be cuddled in the early part of the race as she can get a bit keen on the bit," Begg said.

"It was great to win a Listed race for the ownership group, John Valmorbida, Jack Bongiorno and Mr Kraps. It's fantastic, and she deserves it as she has been wonderfully consistent all preparation.

"It's great to win a nice race here at Mornington.

"She was a very lowly graded mare when we first received her. She has worked her way up through the grades.

"We have only started her at a mile and a half a couple of times, and she has a second win now, which is great.

Advertisement

"We might look at something like the Bendigo Cup. She is a progressive mare, and there is no hint of retiring her at this stage, so we have a little more to look forward to.     

Bred by Mojo Thoroughbreds, Lunar Flare advances her record to six wins, three seconds, and six thirds from 25 starts, with earnings of $372,255.

Lunar Flare opens stakes account at age six (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

A half-sister to the stakes-placegetters Sea of Tranquility (Dash for Cash) and Eagle Command (by Dash for Cash), Lunar Flare is the best of nine winners from as many to race out of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare My Fair Lago.

Another of the nine winners is Lunar Lights (Bianconi), the dam of the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final winner Honey Steel's Gold (Keep The Faith).

The last recorded foal by My Fair Lago is a 3yo filly by Dark Cove (USA).

Fiorente is a Premium stallion, click for more information.

Lunar Flare becomes the eighth stakes-winner for Widden Stud's Group 1 VRC Melbourne Cup and Group 1 Australian Cup winner Fiorente (IRE), who is listed as a Premium stallion on Breednet.

Advertisment

Race Result - R.M. Ansett Classic LR 2400m

Mornington Track: Good(3) Time: 2:29.68
1
Lunar Flare
- 6m Fiorente (IRE) x My Fair Lago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: M J Dee 54
Fiorente
2
0.8
High Emocean
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x High Joy (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Teodore Nugent 54
3
2.1
Good Idea
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Faint Perfume (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D Oliver 56.5
So You Think
4
3.2
The Good Fight
- 7g High Chaparral (IRE) x Pravda (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
5
3.3
Bedford
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Dastaria (NZ) (Stark South (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
6
3.7
Pesto
- 6g New Approach (IRE) x Pickle (GB) (Piccolo (GB))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Fred W Kersley 54
7
6.7
Aktau
- 6g Teofilo (IRE) x Rare Ransom (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: John Allen 57.5
More Reading...
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
Hot Date for Lunar Flare
Outstanding staying mare Lunar Flare might not have the first Tuesday in November at Flemington after her retirement due to injury following her fourth place in the Group II Moonee Valley Gold Cup, but a Tweet from her trainer Grahame Begg would indicate she’s on her way to something more exciting.
Lunar Flare Wins Andrew Ramsden
Fiorente (IRE) mare Lunar Flare is at her best at a long distance staying trip and she showed her class when thrashing hot favourite White Marlin (IRE) to win the $500,000 Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Cambridge Stud Celebrate Ceolwulf Victory
Homebred Ceolwulf’s successful defence of his Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) title ensured Cambridge Stud celebrated a top day at Randwick.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.