Graham Daws tapped into a precocious family when he purchased Domesday mare More Spark and it paid off again when Fiery Spark scored first-up in a Bunbury nursery on Saturday
Fiery Spark (Ole Kirk) is the latest Dawson Stud-bred winner from More Spark with Running By (Impending) first cab off the rank posting Group 3 seconds twice in Melbourne prior to winning the $350,000 VRC Inglis Bracelet (1200m) at Flemington in November.
Daws kept a share in Running By after offering her through Newhaven Park (as agent) at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Targeted by Ciaron Maher, she made $210,000 and has banked $645,000 with more broodmare residuals to come for a syndicate managed by David Thomas (Seymour Bloodstock).
Trainer Steve Wolfe was upbeat after Fiery Spark won the Statewide Bearings 2yo Plate (1200m) on Bunbury Cup Day. “Debut performances don’t get much smarter than that,” he declared. “He was ridden patiently at the back of the field and swooped down the outside for Shaun (McGruddy). We look forward to what the future has in store for him.”
Wolfe and Commercial Bloodstock’s Noel Carter purchased Fiery Spark for $100,000 out of the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Sale. He led home a quinella for Daws at Bunbury from Hard Solo (All Too Hard) who is another Dawson Stud-bred graduate from last year’s Swan Valley Sale.
More Spark’s current yearling is a colt by Xtravagant (NZ) with Karnup trainer Rob Gulberti and she foaled a filly by State Of Rest (Ire) in October.
Victorian couple Joe and Daira Vella bred More Spark at Wingrove Park and she won three races around the provincial circuit before transferring west to Myalup. She was one of nine winners from Dual Spark (Spartacus) topped by LR Morphettville Guineas (1600m) winner Sparks Fly (Flying Spur).
Dual Spark’s older half-brother Rancho Spark (Rancho Ruler) won a LR Straight Six Hcp (1200m) at Flemington and their dam Sparky Miss (Flash of Steel) had won the ABCOS Adelaide Million Stakes (1200m) in 1992.
“Dual Spark was the first horse we raced and she won at her very first start in 2002 at Cranbourne and gave us our first city winner two weeks later,” Daira recalled. “Sparky Miss was one of our foundation broodmares and she’s responsible for all the ‘Sparks’ in that family.”
Dawson Stud sold five yearlings at last month’s Perth Magic Millions topped by an Ole Kirk – Star Of Rosie colt (Lot 138) purchased by Noel Carter for $170,000. He’s by the same sire as Fiery Spark and will also be trained by Steve Wolfe.
Hoofnote: Fiery Spark completed a double for Dawson Stud on Cup Day after Above The Peg (Blackfriars) won the Bunbury Brighter Hcp (1690m) for trainer Michael Lane and a syndicate managed by Canal Enterprises principal Peter Capararo.