Fiorente's Lunar Flare Opens Stakes Account

Mark Smith - Sunday September 26

Promoted to favouritism following the scratching of Degraves, the Grahame Begg-trained Lunar Flare staged a last to first performance in Sunday's $160,000 Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington.

Michael Dee threads the needle on Lunar Flare (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Michael Dee, the 6yo daughter of Fiorente (IRE) was happy to lob along at the tail of the field. Instead of coming wide around the home turn, Dee elected to thread the needle between runners. Lunar Flare picked up the bit and charged home to defeat last year's winner High Emocean (Ocean Park), by three-quarters of a length, with the Group II Adelaide Cup winner Good Idea (So You Think), one and a quarter length back in third.

"She likes to be cuddled in the early part of the race as she can get a bit keen on the bit," Begg said.

"It was great to win a Listed race for the ownership group, John Valmorbida, Jack Bongiorno and Mr Kraps. It's fantastic, and she deserves it as she has been wonderfully consistent all preparation.

"It's great to win a nice race here at Mornington.

&quo

Advertisement
t;She was a very lowly graded mare when we first received her. She has worked her way up through the grades.

"We have only started her at a mile and a half a couple of times, and she has a second win now, which is great.

"We might look at something like the Bendigo Cup. She is a progressive mare, and there is no hint of retiring her at this stage, so we have a little more to look forward to.     

Bred by Mojo Thoroughbreds, Lunar Flare advances her record to six wins, three seconds, and six thirds from 25 starts, with earnings of $372,255.

Lunar Flare opens stakes account at age six (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

A half-sister to the stakes-placegetters Sea of Tranquility (Dash for Cash) and Eagle Command (by Dash for Cash), Lunar Flare is the best of nine winners from as many to race out of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare My Fair Lago.

Another of the nine winners is Lunar Lights (Bianconi), the dam of the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final winner Honey Steel's Gold (Keep The Faith).

The last recorded foal by My Fair Lago is a 3yo filly by Dark Cove (USA).

Fiorente is a Premium stallion, click for more information.

Lunar Flare becomes the eighth stakes-winner for Widden Stud's Group 1 VRC Melbourne Cup and Group 1 Australian Cup winner Fiorente (IRE), who is listed as a Premium stallion on Breednet.

Advertisment

Race Result - R.M. Ansett Classic LR 2400m

Mornington Track: Good(3) Time: 2:29.68
1
Lunar Flare
- 6m Fiorente (IRE) x My Fair Lago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: M J Dee 54
Fiorente
2
0.8
High Emocean
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x High Joy (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Teodore Nugent 54
3
2.1
Good Idea
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Faint Perfume (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D Oliver 56.5
So You Think
4
3.2
The Good Fight
- 7g High Chaparral (IRE) x Pravda (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
5
3.3
Bedford
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Dastaria (NZ) (Stark South (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damien Thornton 54
6
3.7
Pesto
- 6g New Approach (IRE) x Pickle (GB) (Piccolo (GB))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Fred W Kersley 54
7
6.7
Aktau
- 6g Teofilo (IRE) x Rare Ransom (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: John Allen 57.5
More Reading...
Lunar Flare Wins Andrew Ramsden
Fiorente (IRE) mare Lunar Flare is at her best at a long distance staying trip and she showed her class when thrashing hot favourite White Marlin (IRE) to win the $500,000 Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Hot Date for Lunar Flare
Outstanding staying mare Lunar Flare might not have the first Tuesday in November at Flemington after her retirement due to injury following her fourth place in the Group II Moonee Valley Gold Cup, but a Tweet from her trainer Grahame Begg would indicate she’s on her way to something more exciting.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Big Payday for Fiorente's Lunar Flare in Gold Cup
It was a massive result for trainer Grahame Begg, when Michael Dee guided the lightweight Lunar Flare to victory in Saturday's $1million Group II McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Melbourne Cup runner for Melbourne Cup winning sire Fiorente
Grahame Begg is set to have his very first runner in the Melbourne Cup with tough staying mare Lunar Flare securing her place in the race that stops the nation with a stylish win in the Group III VRC Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.