The five-year-old had already proven her Group 1 credentials throughout this season.
She was beaten by three-quarters of a length by Sunlight (Zoustar) when second in the William Reid S., finished two and a half lengths behind Viddora (I Am Invincible) when third in the AJ Moir S., and was within two lengths of the winners when fourth in the Manikato S. and fifth in the Oakleigh Plate.
All that was left for Spright to do was to finally win one, and Saturday was her day.
Dropping back from her wide gate and assuming her usual position back near the tail of the field, Spright had only one horse behind her as the 13 mares swung around Morphettville’s home turn.
But jockey Damien Oliver brought Spright bounding down the outside with giant strides in the straight, reeling in the front-running Cool Passion (Not a Single Doubt) to score a brilliant win by a length and a quarter. Bella Martini (Stratum) finished right alongside Cool Passion in third.
Spright became a first Group 1 winner in two decades for respected trainer Garry Frazer, whose previous taste came with Quick Star (Success Express {USA}) in the 1999 Champagne Stakes at Randwick.
However, he deflected all of Saturday’s post-race praise on to his son Jordan.
“He’s been with her, he rides her in all of her work,” he said. “He looks after her – he always has done.”
For his part, Jordan was proud to see the stable’s star mare deliver on her Group 1-winning potential.
“She was one of the best horses in the country not to have won a major,” he said. “She’s proved that all the way through this preparation.
“She was one of the best horses in the country not to have won a major." - Jordan Frazer
"Her work on Tuesday morning was as good as she can do. She just needs genuine pace and she needs clear running. Ollie (Oliver) had her in a good spot to pounce.”
Spright was bred by Donnybrook Thoroughbreds in New South Wales. She was purchased for just $12,000 as a weanling at the 2014 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale, then was on-sold for $100,000 at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Spright as a yearling
She has now had 29 starts for six wins, nine placings and more than $1.26 million in stakes.
Prior to her Group 1 glory in Adelaide, her previous best wins had come in the G3 Crown Resorts P., Star Kingdom H., WJ Healy S. and the Listed Brian Crowley S.
Oliver’s Group 1 double
Saturday’s trip to Adelaide reaped huge rewards for Oliver, who lifted his tally of Group 1 victories to 117 with his back-to-back triumphs at Morphettville.
Spright’s victory came just over half an hour after Oliver guided Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) out of trouble to win the Schweppes Oaks.
While Oliver received plaudits for his patient and skilful ride on Princess Jenni, he said Spright was unsuited to a slow early pace in the Sangster and deserves full credit for a fearsome turn of foot that won her the race.
“This mare is so consistent at this level.” - Jockey Damien Oliver
“The first quarter didn't seem that fast and I felt I was further back than I would have liked,” he admitted.
“You can't push her to go before she's ready and I just had to back her finish. Her last 200 to 300 metres is amazing, and inside the 200 I just hoped she could come over the top of them, and she did.
“This mare is so consistent at this level.”
Damien Oliver aboard G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Princess Jenni
Goodwood next
Spright will now attempt to become the first horse in more than half a decade to complete Adelaide’s G1 Sangster-Goodwood sprint double.
The extraordinary Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) won both races in 2012, a feat that was emulated by Platelet (Strategic) a year later.
Spright is now the favourite for the 2019 edition of the G1 Goodwood, which will be run for a stake of $750,000 on May 18.
“She’ll be there for the Goodwood,” Frazer confirmed.
