Arrowfield Stud stalwart Flying Spur is on course to sire a century of Australian winners again this season.
Newcastle based gelding Motspur has been one of his most reliable runners and he saluted for the 11th time in the $100,000 Scone Quality on Friday. Flying Spur has sired 85 individual winners so far this season.
Motspur (8g Flying Spur – Crusading Lil by Crusader Sword) came off some frantic sectionals up front to collar G1 winner Atomic Force (Danehill Dancer) to win the feature sprint by half a head.
Motspur will now head for the June Stakes at Randwick followed by the Pacesetter Stakes at Gosford and the Ramornie Hcp at Grafton. “He’s an old marvel,” trainer Kris Lees said. “We missed the autumn to wait for the winter sprints and he looked a picture in the yard.”
Flying Spur cracked a century of individual winners from 2004 to 2007 and in the last three seasons has sired 90, 89 and 98 winners. His career high was 131 winners for the year ending 2006.
Motspur is a half-brother to winners by Scenic, Anabaa, Timber Country and his full brother Flying Crusader also won four races.
The Flying Spur branch of the Danehill sireline is emerging with new-wave sires Casino Prince (Patinack), Magnus (Eliza Park), Primus (Chatswood), Heritage (Yarradale), Shaft (Darley), Jet Spur (Glenlogan Pk), Volitant (Oxford Park ) and Krupt (Lincoln).