Fighting Sun has been retired to stand at Eliza Park International.

The announcement comes on the eve of what was widely tipped to be his career defining achievement in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes this Saturday.

Unfortunately, Fighting Sun was sidelined after suffering a suspensory injury after a three length victory in the LR Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill in February.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse had long flagged Fighting Sun as her Golden Slipper horse. She said the same about Pierro months before he won the 2012 Golden Slipper.

“This is a serious horse,” Waterhouse said after his victory over subsequent Group winner Ghibillenes in the Canonbury. “He has everything you want to see and the acceleration he showed was electrifying!”

Waterhouse had a willing disciple in jockey Tommy Berry. “I don’t ride a colt this good every day,” he claimed. ”He’s really laidback but once he pings out he’s all class.

“He really put them away quickly. When I won on Able Friend in Hong Kong last season, I knew immediately he was a superstar in the making – this colt gives me a similar feel. He has a superb action, you can make two or three runs on him in a race and he will find plenty if something makes a race of it with him.”

Fighting Sun (2c Northern Meteor – Irish Darling by Ivory’s Irish) is the highest rated 2YO colt by ill-fated sire Northern Meteor, whose legacy includes Zoustar, Romantic Touch, Eurozone and Bound For Earth. Additionally, Fighting Sun is out of the Group 1 winning mare Irish Darling.

“He is the first of the Sun International horses to stand at stud,” Eliza Park International CEO Alvin Lui said. “One thing for sure, he will receive tremendous support.”

A service fee for Fighting Sun will be announced in the coming weeks. For further enquiries, contact Sales & Nominations Manager Mark Lindsay on 0416 334 338.