Rising star Vibrant Sun, a Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.-trained runner, will be based at Caulfield this weekend as she gears up to a Group 1 down the track later this spring. The quality mare is going into the Catanach's 150 Years Vase at Caulfield on Saturday to build fitness into the prestigious Empire Stakes at Flemington on November 2.
Entered the same day for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, where she would have had to contend with stiff opposition from Another Wil and Antino in a field stacked with males, Price and Kent Jnr opted to run Vibrant Sun among mares. The decision is part of a bigger plan to work her up to a peak effort in the Empire Stakes. "We're building her towards the Empire Stakes third-up, and it's a race she can run well in," said Kent Jr. The team's careful handling of the mare reflects their confidence in her ability to excel as the spring carnival progresses.
Vibrant Sun has been a bright talent for the Price and Kent Jnr yard, despite having only eight career starts. Three wins sat on her resume but it was in April that came the crowning achievement—winning the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. And firmly placed her in the record books as a top-class filly with a bright future. Her campaign started spectacularly at the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival, where she triumphed in a Geelong maiden by an intimidating eight lengths before quickly reappearing in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
While some of her group have been spelling, Vibrant Sun has continued to add to her tally during autumn, winning the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600 m) at Moonee Valley. However, her current campaign was roughed up when she ran tenth in the Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) over a wet Flemington last month. Still, the task at hand for her trainers remains a promising one for the spring features.
She had even considered running Vibrant Sun in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600 m) on September 27 but Kent Jnr deemed a spell was her priority and gave her extra time to recover from her first-up run. "It came up very quickly, just 13 days after what was a tough run on a heavy track," Kent Jnr said. "She won her Group 1 in the autumn with a little more time between runs, so we thought it best to give her a bit of extra time leading into this race."
As if Saturday's run is meant to polish her fitness, Vibrant Sun is shaping up as the Empire Stakes likely candidate, as her trainers are confident that she shall produce a standout performance in race when it matters most. The patient approach is meant to ensure she peaks at the right time, and if that's any projection of her previous successes, then Vibrant Sun shall be the force to be fought within this spring carnival.
