Former Sunspeed stallions Red Eye Special and Systematic (GB) were represented by their first stakes winners at Ascot on Saturday.

Late Night Flight (5g Red Eye Special – Polish Spirit by Dauberval) was a courageous winner of the Listed Detonator Stakes after prevailing in a two-horse war with Rocky Range (Eternity Range).  “He is quite a horse,” winning trainer Sue Forrest beamed.  “We were actually planning to send him to the paddock but he put on 20kg since his last start.”

Forrest bought Late Night Flight for a mere $800 from Lynward Park at the 2007 Perth Magic Millions April yearling sale.  

Veracious (3g Systematic – Royal Lace by Serheed) benefited from a gem of a ride by Pat Carbery to land the Listed T.J. Smith Trophy.  He settled just off the speed and was well-placed to take advantage when a run appeared in the straight.

Veracious is prepared by Trevor Andrews and the Ascot trainer predicted a bright future for the gelding after his initial win at Ascot last November.  “He’s always shown plenty of ability,” Andrews said.  “We may look at the WA Derby although he might have too much dash for longer distances.”

Unfortunately, Red Eye Special and Systematic aren’t around to capitalise on their black-type winners.  

Red Eye Special (Marooned) was a G3 winner of the 1996 WATC Roma Cup but didn’t strike a chord with Sunspeed breeders.  Nevertheless, he had built up a 59% winning strike-rate by the time he died at Lynward Park in October 2008.

Systematic (Rainbow Quest) was a G3 winner of the Ormonde Stakes and Cumberland Lodge Stakes in England before retiring to Barridale Stud in 2006. 

Only 65% of his mares returned positives that year and his fate was sealed when the fertility count in the second book dropped to 46%.