Vibrant Sun nabs Grinzinger Belle late to claim Alexandra Stakes
Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have taken out the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes with their progressive filly Vibrant Sun (+900) claiming the tearaway leader Grinzinger Belle (+550) in the final strides of the 1600m contest.
As the leader ran the field along at a very quick tempo, Thomas Stockdale allowed his mount to settle behind the speed and pick off runners down the side of the Moonee Valley track.
With the rest of the field struggling to keep up with Grinzinger Belle, it was left to the daughter of The Autumn Sun to chase down the tiring front-runner in the home straight.
The two race favourites Mollynickers (+100) and Vivy Air (+450) were off the bit well before the home turn and the latter was the only runner to take serious ground off the top two, as she ran into third place.
2024 Alexandra Stakes Replay – Vibrant Sun
Mick Price was on course to speak about the win of Vibrant Sun, and he spoke post-race.
“What is good about it is that she didn’t have black type and now she is a Group 3 winner,” Price said of the winner.
“It is very good for Thomas Stockdale, too. Tom comes in and rides work. He’s a very promising kid who has had a lot of injuries. I’m very pleased for him.
“It was great to see him one-out and one-back.
“We joked that it would be nice to be one-out and one-back but when he actually got there I thought that was good and she was just good enough to pick up the win.
“She’ll go to Adelaide now, I imagine. We put a circle around the South Australian Oaks.
“She’s got a turn-of-foot, she’s cleanwinded, she’s sound.
“I think that is the race we should have a crack at but it is just a matter of how we get there.”
Thomas Stockdale gave the winner a peach of a ride and he was very happy when speaking post-race.
“I’ve probably never been so confident coming into a Group 3 on a filly that is on her way up,” Stockdale said.
“I worked her during the week and she has gone from strength-to-strength.
“She’s still not quite there yet and I think she’ll be better over further.
“I was really confident coming here today that she’ll be going really close.
“When the leader started to kick away I was left slightly flatfooted without a drag without a drag up so more credit on her win. She had to do it on her own.
“The further they went, strong she goes.
“I’ve been fighting like hell to keep my bum on her back. I knew she had ability and I don’t think that is the end of her.”