Flying Spur’s 85th stakeswinner is Full of Spirit

The impression made by Flying Spur ‘s grand-looking 3YO daughter Full of Spirit (ex Imposingly by Zabeel) in the mounting yard matched both trainer Roger James’ high opinion of her, and her subsequent performance in today $125,000 ATC Adrian Knox S. 2000m G3.

She is the 85th stakeswinner for Flying Spur, and his sixth stakeswinner this season, after fellow 3YO fillies Bliss Street, Gliding and Satin Shoes, Group 2 winner Vintedge and multiple Singapore Group winner Flying Fulton.

Pictured: Full of Spirit becomes the second consecutive Arrowfield-sired Adrian Knox S. G3 winner at Randwick this afternoon. (PHOTO: Sportpix)

Full of Spirit and jockey James McDonald bowled along in the second half of the field until the 500-metre mark when they swung wide and drove forward, reaching the lead with 300 metres to run. The result was not in doubt from that point onwards and Full of SPirit’s winning margin was a length ahead of Plumm, with Secret Liaison third.

James said afterwards, “All credit to this filly as she only arrived at 11.00pm on Wednesday night and she has not missed a beat since she has been here. She has never run further than a mile and she has won a Group 3 at the Randwick Carnival.”

James bought Full of Spirit for $275,000 from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2010 New Zealand Premier Sale, acting on behalf of owners the Chitty family’s Haunui Stud and Hilton Mackley. She is another success story for New Zealand breeder, also repsonsible for Group 1 winner Sedecrem and Group 1-placed Gold City.

McDonald said, “She is a beautiful filly and I am thankful for the owners for bringing her over and it was a great way to repay them.”

Although Full of Sirit is not nominated for next Saturday’s ATC Australian Oaks G1, a start is surely on the cards for her, with a cheque of $75,000 heading to her owners’ account after today’s win, her third from nine starts.