Burning Front broke through for his first black-type victory in the G3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The tough-as-teak five year-old was having his 20th start in a long campaign that began almost a year ago after joining Darren Weir at Warrnambool.  He’s been in the money in 19 of those outings.

It was also a first at stakes level for Primus who stands at Stonehurst Farm in Euroa for a $2,200 (inc gst) fee.

Burning Front (5g Primus – She’s A Knockout by Kingston Rule) has won 11 times in 35 starts for earnings over $541,400.  The bank balance has been topped up by several lucrative VOBIS bonuses.

“He’s a good, tough, sound horse and that takes you a long way,” Weir said.  “There’s a couple of VOBIS events ahead and will be hard enough to beat.  If those VOBIS races weren’t coming up, we might have targeted the (G1) Futurity Stakes, but they’re too good to refuse for a horse like this.”

Primus (Flying Spur) retired to Chatswood Stud in 2007 after a career highlighted by a Group 3 victory in the Tramway Stakes at Randwick.  He transferred to Clear Mountain Stud in Queensland in 2012 but was repatriated to Victoria by Stonehurst Farm owner Justin Lovatt last year.

“His progeny that we’ve bred and raced have all displayed above average ability,” Lovatt said shortly after the stallion arrived back home.  “He’s by champion stallion Flying Spur from the Group 1 family of Denise’s Joy and has plenty to offer owner-breeders.”