Recording her second win in as many starts, 3yo The Autumn Sun filly Vivid Sun looked something special as she resumed from a spell at Sandown to trounce her rivals by more than two lengths on Wednesday, signalling a step up to black type races during the Spring.
Racing in the Wylie Dalziel silks and trained by the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman partnership, could Vivid Sun be another Autumn Angel for the team with that filly going on to claim three group victories headed by the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks during her 3yo Autumn campaign.
Given four jumpouts leading into her debut win in late April this year, the filly was given a further two leading into Wednesday’s run where jockey Blake Shinn was back on board after riding her on debut.
Interestingly, in the field of seven, all bar one runner was a last start winner with the Greg Eurell trained Humble Trader (Hanseatic), a debut winner just two weeks prior jumping the race favourite.
While Shinn was content to settle in last position aboard his filly, Craig Newitt took Zoustar gelding Undisputable to the lead, ensuring the race was run at a solid tempo.
With 500m to run, Undisputable held a three-length lead on the field, but Shinn had pulled the widest of all as the entered the home straight.
Just as eventual runner up Torsheen (Toronado), a half-sister to Group 3 winner De Sonic Boom, had nabbed Undisputable, Vivid Sun under hands and heels riding glided past with ease, pulling away to record a dominant two and a quarter length victory, a margin which could have easily been more.
Syndicator Wylie Dalziel was clearly pleased with the effort of his filly.
“We bought her out of the Sydney Easter sales, of off the back of Autumn Angel," said Dalziel.
“Fillies generally hit their straps at three, and we’ve got a good ownership group similar to Autumn Angel. Some of the Autumn Angel owners are in her.
“Blake Shinn rode her at Ballarat in a maiden, and he said, I think you might have a good one so we put her away. Moods sent her Queensland to spell and she came back really, really well.
“I'm sure Blake will give her a good report, and hopefully, it's onwards and upwards to some stakes races.
“We try and buy these nice fillies and go on to win black type, and we get the owners to sort of back us and go in with us.
Knowing there would be pace on in the race, the discussion was that Vivid Sun would settle back.
“There’s a bit of speed and see if she can run home and obviously get on to further distances and better races. And she looked to do that today. And hopefully, it'll also prove a good form.”
While not willing to give too much away, it was evident that Blake Shinn has a good opinion of this filly.
“Look, she's an impressive horse,” said Shinn.
“She showed us nice ability as a two-year-old. We went to Ballarat on a Sunday and rode her, and she was dominant on that day, and her tipped her out with, a spring in mind, and she's come to hand nicely.
“It's always a little bit apprehensive to see how they go until they come here and do it, but she couldn't have been more impressive, and it's good to see her back like that.
“I think she's adaptable. She's got a great mind on her. She's going to be a complete racehorse, I think, and those good fillies, you can ride them any particular way.
“They went really quick, which it appeared they were going to, but they set it up for a run on and she was the one conserving her energy and showed a great turn of foot.
“Like I said, she's versatile. She's got a good head on her shoulders, and you know, Pete said she'll come back to a Prelude in three weeks and I think she'll be very competitive.”
Purchased for $200,000 by Dalziel Racing and Moody Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Vivid Sun is the third winner from as many runners out of the Japanese-bred Zenno Rob Roy mare Rainbow Song, herself a three-time-winning sister to the Group 2-winning, Group 1 placed Animate Bio and a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Rainbow Line (Stay Gold).
Unsurprisingly, the Dalziel - Moody team went to $300,000 the following year at Inglis Easter to purchase the full sister to Vivid Sun, with her dam due to foal this season to Castelvecchio.
The sire of nine stakes winners led by Group 1-winning fillies Autumn Angel, Vibrant Sun and Coco Sun, The Autumn Sun could be in for a great Spring carnival with his Group 2-winning daughter Autumn Glow remaining unbeaten after five runs, having returned in fine style to win the Group 3 Toy Show Quality recently.
Set to cover his sixth book of mares after missing last season due to a pelvic injury, The Autumn Sun will is standing a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST) at Arrowfield Stud.
