Written by Paul Vettise
A colic attack has claimed the life of much-loved Sun Stud stallion Fighting Sun, who passed away early on Sunday morning.
With three crops of racing age, the son of Northern Meteor’s leading representative to date has been the Listed St Albans S. winner Chess Star and Roccabascerana recently won at Flemington and finished runner-up in the Redelva S.
Fighting Sun’s daughter Platinum Mam’selle has been a winner in New Zealand and ran second in the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic while Entrapped and Celestial Sol have been other stakes performers.
The late Fighting Sun
Fighting Sun has sired 64 winners across four countries from 155 runners and will have his largest crop of 2-year-olds to the races next season.
“It’s never easy and colic is a horrible thing. He unfortunately went in the early hours and when the guys turned up on Sunday morning he had passed away,” Sun Stud Sales and Nominations Manager Philip Marshall said.
“He was a horse that everyone got very attached to. He was just a bit different and a very loving horse, very ease to manage and to do anything with.
“He was just a bit different and a very loving horse, very ease to manage and to do anything with.” – Philip Marshall
“From a stallion point of view, many can be difficult and aggressive, but he was the complete opposite. He was a gentle giant and just a lovely horse to deal with.”
Fighting Sun also played an important role in the careers of a number of stud staff.
“A lot of the young guys that work here on the farm learned their trade with him in the last few years because he was such a willing horse. He was a great teacher for this younger people who want a career with stallions,” Marshall said.
The late Fighting Sun when racing
Those sentiments were echoed by Operations Manager David Grant.
“He was the go-to stallion for the new and less experienced stallion staff, to help build their confidence. Fighting Sun had such a kind nature and was always easy to serve mares with,” he said.
“It’s been 17 years since we lost a stallion on the property, so we are all in shock and are extremely saddened by his passing. One thing is for sure, the stallion barn will not be the same without him.”
“It’s been 17 years since we lost a stallion on the property, so we are all in shock and are extremely saddened by his passing.” – David Grant
Fighting Sun was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and signed for by Gai Waterhouse and James Harron for $180,000.
“He was the first horse that our ownership group had good success with. He was named by Mr Cheng and raced with Gai and Adrian and showed unbelievable potential and probably robbed of what was a likely G1 Golden Slipper S. victory by injury,” Marshall said.
Fighting Sun had won at Rosehill on debut and sadly suffered a career-ending victory when he won the Listed Canonbury S. in his only other appearances.
Watch: Fighting Sun win at Rosehill
“He was a tremendous talent and we all thought, as did Gai, that he was the most likely winner of Slipper that year and unfortunately it wasn’t to be,” Marshall said.
“It’s very, very sad and kind of ironic that his sire Northern Meteor, who was going to be an absolute super sire and probably a breed-shaper, unfortunately he went the same way at the same age.
“We’re only in this industry because we love the horses so when something like this happens it’s tough. He’s going to leave a big hole, he was just a wonderful horse and Amir Khan, our Stallion Manager, is extremely upset.”
