With an additional $50,000 Inglis Bonus to the winner, the Lightning Ridge Plate this past Sunday offered a good prize money opportunity, with a very attractive $72,100 up for grabs for an eligible horse, only fractionally less than a Sydney Saturday race. This year the green and gold colours, carried to victory in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes last year by Defcon, continued a good association with the Canberra track, with Gunnison taking out the victory
The son of Not a Single Doubt, an Inglis Easter Graduate from Arrowfield Stud, has won his latest two trials and in Sunday’s race he jumped well with jockey Mitchell Bell finding a nice spot on the rail behind the leaders. In the straight there were a few anxious moments as it looked like Gunnison would be trapped on the rails, but once extricated into clear running his response was immediate and he was running away from his rivals on the line.
Gunnison is the first foal of Sydney Group 2 winner Colorado Claire, herself out of fast 2YO Lunaspur and from the further family of emerging Hong Kong star Lucky Bubbles. He has now had a valuable look at the Canberra track ahead of potential start in the $300,000 Group 3 Black Opal Stakes there in two weeks time.