Bargain buy Late Night Flight provided his fledgling trainer with the thrill of a lifetime when he scored a stirring win in the listed Detonator Stakes (1800m) at Ascot today.
An aptly named son of Red Eye Special, Late Night Flight outlasted fellow Magic Millions graduate Rocky Range after a thrilling two horse war in the straight in the day’s feature staying contest in Perth.
The winner has been an incredible money spinner for his senior part owner and new trainer Suzanne Forrest after she parted with just $800 for him from the 2007 Magic Millions April Thoroughbred Sale.
The gelding made it back to back wins today – boosting his overall record to eight wins and nine placings from 34 starts and earnings of $317,800.
“He is quite a horse,” Forrest beamed. “We were actually planning to send him to the paddock after his last start.”
“But he pulled up fantastic. He has thrived. He’s actually put on nearly 20 kilos since that last start.”
“All of his work has been super and I can not thank Troy Turner enough. He has really helped me being a new trainer and the proof is in the pudding.”
“It’s the Late Night Flight of old and we’re so proud of him.”
“He takes everything in his stride. He’s been so forgiving on me with the mistakes I’ve made as a new trainer.”
“We’ve had an amazing journey with him – going right up to the 2400 metres of the Perth Cup and back down to a mile a fortnight ago and he’s going better and better each week.”
Forrest only has a few horses in work and to date Late Night Flight is her only runner. She’s saddled him up on five occasions and when he won last start it was her first metropolitan winner.
Late Night Flight is the first stakes winner for the former classy Perth sprinter Red Eye Special, a son of Marooned.
Red Eye Special won six races prior to being retired to stud – three at two. He won the Group Three Roma Cup and a pair of listed races – the Challenge and Fairetha Stakes’.
His initial stakes winner is one of two eight time winners produced by the former smart Dauberval racemare Polish Spirit.
A winner in Perth at two, Polish Spirit is a daughter of the Group Three SAJC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and Group One SA Oaks placegetter Kingston Spirit.
Winner: Late Night Flight (Red Eye Special-Polish Spirit)
Race: WATC Detonator Stakes LR (1800m)
Sold for: $800
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions April Thoroughbred Sale
Vendor: Lynward Park
Buyer: Suzanne Forrest
Earnings: $317,800
Owner(s): Ms SM Forrest, Forward Racing & Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: MT Ward) & PJ Diamond
Trainer: Suzanne Forrest (Ascot)
