Richly-bred crop set to fly for Spur

Four days after signing off on a splendid $4.1 million Australian season, champion sire Flying Spur has opened his 2012/13 account in stylish fashion, courtesy of Congo who scored at Doomben this afternoon.

The 3YO gelding relished both the firm footing and his first attempt at 1600 metres to win the $50,000 maiden event by more than two lengths.

Congo is from the Group 2-winning Centaine mare Fleur de Chine, who is due to foal again to Flying Spur this spring for Congo’s Queensland-based breeders and part-owners Mark & Cherilyn Lowe.

Congo is a half-brother to G1 Tully Thunder and SW Sufficient, from the distinguished family of US Grade 1 winner Black Mamba, G1 Roman Emperor, G2 Rios & G1-placed stakeswinner Spurcent (also by Flying Spur).

Another member of Flying Spur’s richly-bred 2009 crop was an impressive trial winner at Randwick last Monday. John O’Shea presented the strapping filly Spurs And Sashes (ex Royal Sash by Royal Academy) for her owner Segenhoe Thoroughbreds and she ran home in a manner suggesting quality talent.

Flying Spur attracted an outstanding group of mares in 2008 and with around two-thirds of the resulting foals yet to race, there’s every reason to be confident of the crop’s ability to add to his 86-stakeswinner lifetime record.

Flying Spur, represented by 8 stakeswinners last season, is available to breeders in 2012 at a fee of $33,000 inc. GST.