Big Payday for Fiorente's Lunar Flare in Gold Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday October 23

It was a massive result for trainer Grahame Begg, when Michael Dee guided the lightweight Lunar Flare to victory in Saturday's $1million Group II McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).

In a desperate finish, the 6yo daughter of Fiorente (IRE) clung to a rapidly diminishing half-head advantage over Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel), with Sound (GER) (Lando) three-quarters of a length back in third.

Lunar Flare (outside) edges Floating Artist in a thriller (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Racing in great heart, Lunar Flare advances her record to seven three six from 26 starts with earnings of $972,255.

"It’s absolutely outstanding. She’s been a model of consistency right through, right from the time I got her,” Begg said.

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“She took a bit to work out but keeps stepping up to the line.

“We had a few doubts with the track deteriorating a little bit but, she’s hard fit, came off a good mile-and-a-half run a few weeks ago and what a great job.

“We’re so pleased to win for the connections. Great race to win, fair dinkum, a million dollar race.

“I didn’t leave her in the Melbourne Cup because I thought at the time she’d got beaten when it was time to pay up. I thought it was a bit hard to try and run her in a Melbourne Cup after a disappointing run, but she’s done her job up to now so we’ll have to consider what we’ll do. It could be the Queen Elizabeth or something like that.”

Lunar Flare (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Bred by Mojo Thoroughbreds, Lunar Flare A half-sister to the stakes-placegetters Sea of Tranquility (Dash for Cash) and Eagle Command (by Dash for Cash),

The daughter of Forente (IRE) 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).

Melbourne Cup hero Fiorente (IRE) stands at Widden Stud, Victoria, for a fee of $11,000.

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Race Result - Moonee Valley Gold Cup Gr2 2500m

Moonee Valley Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:40.12
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
0.1
Floating Artist
- 6g Nathaniel (IRE) x Miss Kenton (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Teodore Nugent 55
3
0.9
Sound
- 9h Lando (GER) x Sky Dancing (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J Mott 57
4
1.0
Pondus
- 6g Sea The Moon (GER) x Diablerette (GB) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
5
4.5
Miami Bound
- 5m Reliable Man (GB) x Arapaho Miss (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Moor 55
6
5.3
Future Score
- 7g Cape Cross (IRE) x Theola (IRE) (Kalanisi (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: D Yendall 56
7
5.5
Secret Blaze
- 6g Sizzling (AUS) x Abscond (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: L Currie 56
8
6.2
Attorney
- 7g Makfi (GB) x Tia Kia (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
9
7.7
Starcaster
- 7g Dansili (GB) x Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco (GER))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56
10
27.7
Good Idea
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Faint Perfume (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: C Newitt 57
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