Slipper Goal for Northern Meteor Colt

The $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic will be run next Saturday, but champion trainer Gai Waterhouse is happy enough to give the race a miss with her exciting colt Fighting Sun, who scored a sparkling debut win at Rosehill on Saturday.

Allowed to travel just behind the pace for James McDonald, Fighting Sun proved too good in the run to the line to overpower Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate winner Boomwaa and debut winner Kumaon to win by three-quarters of a length.

The son of Northern Meteor clocked a brisk 1.04.02, which is the fastest two-year-old race over 1100 metres at Rosehill this season.

A $180,000 Magic Millions purchase for Gai Waterhouse/James Harron Bloodstock from the draft of Turangga Farm, Fighting Sun runs for the Asian based Sun Bloodstock Pty Ltd managed by Ting Kong Cheng, whose Sun International Group took over Eliza Park last year.

“Gai has always earmarked the Golden Slipper for him,” said stable representative Mark Newnham.

“A lovely colt that’s shown a lot from the start. He was really good winning today.

“Always shown ability the whole way through, lovely relaxed type, typical of the breed.”

Bred by Stuart Ramsey’s Turangga Farm, Fighting Sun is the second winner for Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling, whose sire Ivory’s Irish won the Group I AJC Australian Derby.

Irish Darling was covered again by ill-fated Northern Meteor in 2012, so has a filly foal from his very last crop that is a full sister to Fighting Sun.

Northern Meteor has 20 yearlings catalogued for Magic Millions next week.