Vibrant Sun Leads Home The Autumn Sun Trifecta in G1 Australasian Oaks

Mark Smith - Saturday April 27

With the reins dangling around her shoulders, Vibrant Sun led home a trifecta for Arrowfield Stud’s ailing stallion The Autumn Sun in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Group 1 Sportsbet Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.

Advertisement

Ridden by Mark Zahra for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Vibrant Sun made all the running to hold the onrushing Private Legacy by a half-head with Coco Sun a head back in third.

A $260,000 buy for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA)/Mick Price Racing & Breeding from the Canning Downs draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Vibrant Sun advances her record to three wins and a second from seven starts with earnings of $697,475.

“We always liked her. She won her maiden by seven lengths and went to the Thousand Guineas,” Kent Jnr said.

“Third-up, 2000 metres, straight to the front, it was a huge win. She missed a run in the Auraria when she had a little setback, so it’s a massive job by the whole team at home.

Good girl (image Racing Photos)

 “She was there to be beaten. It was a huge effort.”

 “We’ll take stock and talk to everybody. She doesn’t have to go anywhere now, she’s a Group 1 winner. We’ll work that out on Monday morning.”

Mark Zahra said he dropped the rein in the straight.

I took my time getting there, but that’s as steady as I could go, but she’s got a high cruising speed,” he said.

“I dropped my rein halfway down the straight and couldn’t pick it up; it was too long.

“I just kept riding her along. It was a good gutsy win.”

 “She was entitled to feel the pinch in the last bit.

“I’ve won a Caulfield Cup dropping the reins, so it still counts. It’s not ideal, but I’m riding light today and a win is a win.”

Dermot Farrington Bloodstock/Canning Downs purchased Vibrant Sun’s dam Vibrant Rouge for $150,000 from the Woodside Park Stud draft at the 2017 National Broodmare Sale.

Vibrant Sun a $260,000 Magic Millions Yearling

The daughter of Written Tycoon won eight races and over $456,000, highlighted by the Group II TTC Vamos Stakes, but her career at stud has been heartbreaking.

Her only other foal Yangarra Rose (Zoustar) won at Kembla and Wyong in eleven starts.

Vibrant Rouge has had three foals born deceased and missed three times in her first eight years. She was covered by Jonker last spring.

Vibrant Sun is the second Group 1 winner and second Oaks winner, after ATC Australian Oaks heroine Autumn Angel,  for Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun, who recently suffered a pelvic injury. Arrowfield Stud is hopeful he will fully recover before the breeding season starts on September 1.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Australasian Oaks Gr1 2000m

Morphettville Track: Good(4) Time: 2:04.28
1
Vibrant Sun
- 3f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Vibrant Rouge (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M Zahra 56
2
0.1
Private Legacy
- 3f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Private Secretary (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: Craig Williams 56
3
0.2
Coco Sun
- 3f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Miss Hufflepuff (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
4
0.9
Wings Of Song
- 3f Mendelssohn (USA) x Tortoni (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: J Noonan 56
5
1.5
Pulchritudinous
- 3f Wrote (IRE) x Showus (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56
6
1.9
Quickster
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Special Favour (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: B Shinn 56
7
3.1
Bon Mistress
- 3f Bon Hoffa (AUS) x Miss Galato (AUS) (Skalato (AUS))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
8
3.3
Mollynickers
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Just One Moment (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Carleen Hefel 56
9
3.7
Positivity
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Pussy O'reilly (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: M J Dee 56
10
4.2
Into You
- 3f No Nay Never (USA) x Reeltop (USA) (Quality Road (USA))
Tnr: Shay Keating Rdr: Alana Kelly 56
11
4.7
The Autumn Belle
- 3f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Winning Belle (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
12
4.7
Queen Of Dragons
- 3f Pierro (AUS) x Entrancing (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Damian Lane 56
13
6.5
Qali Al Farrasha
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Nucleonic (NZ) (Burgundy (NZ))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: W Egan 56
14
6.6
Concello
- 3f Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Senta Helga (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
15
9.7
Serasana
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Twilight Royale (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: John Allen 56
16
27
Infinity Imperial
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Liam Howley Rdr: C Schofield 56
More Reading...
Tara Talks Racing - Trials and Racing
This week we’re talking trials after an insightful set of official 2YO trials in Sydney, plus some racing and how Fangirl will eventually go to stud with two Group I wins less on her resume than there should be.
Vibrant Sun Strikes in Alexandra Stakes - Fourth Stakes Winner for The Autumn Sun
Vibrant Sun is eyeing the Group 1 Australasian Oaks after the daughter of The Autumn Sun ran down the game frontrunner Grinzinger Belle in Saturday’s Group III Dynamic Print Group Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Home Affairs 2YOs Shine at Official Sydney Trials
I Am Invincible’s exciting young sire son Home Affairs was the talk of the town after the yearling sales this year when his progeny topped both Magic Millions and Inglis Easter and at Randwick on Monday morning he had two runners at the official 2YO trials and both of them came out winners.
2025 National Thoroughbred Week Launched
National Thoroughbred Week, the newly launched industry initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred and our sport, is excited to confirm a truly trans-Tasman exposure, with hosts confirmed across all Australian and New Zealand regions.
G1 Golden Rose Field and Barrier Draw
Godolphin filly Tempted will take on eight colts in a nine horse Group One Golden Rose at Rosehill on Saturday where she retains favouritism after drawing barrier eight.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 22
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Career Best Victory for Wentwood Grange Favourite Yearling
Dean Hawkins admits to shedding a tear or two when With Your Blessing was sold as a yearling.
First trial success for Sword Of State
Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by an impressive trial winner when Sword Of Valour coasted to victory in his two-year-old heat over 730m at Te Rapa on Tuesday.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Kiwi Cup Contender Headed to Australia
Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday.