King Saul reprised his victory in the 2011 Belgravia Stakes with another Listed win in the Northerly Stakes on Saturday.  It was the second year in a row that he had won a feature event on the opening day of the Ascot season.

King Saul (4g Flying Pegasus – Zenda by Zabeel) produced a powerful finish under Shaun O’Donnell to nail Kerrific (Blackfriars) by a nose.  “His work during the week had been first class and all he had to do was bring that to the races,” trainer Trevor Andrews said.  “I’m really looking forward to stepping him up in the ground to the Railway Stakes and then the Kingston Town.  Even the Perth Cup is not out of it.”

The divisional leader among Perth’s three year-old crop last year, King Saul won the LR Belgravia Stakes and G2 Western Australian Guineas before finishing third in the G1 Kingston Town Classic.

A graduate of Namerik Thoroughbreds, he was purchased by Craig Thompson’s Mount Hallowell Stud for $120,000 at the 2010 Perth Magic Millions.  Namerik owner Mary Scott sold his Oratorio (Aus) half-brother for $205,000 to Dan Morton at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions.

Touchstone Stud resident Flying Pegasus sired him from a half sister to the NZ based stakes winners Pins ‘n’ Needles and Coup Fieldes.

Flying Pegasus (FuPeg) was a G2 winner of the AJC Royal Sovereign Stakes and he stands at Touchstone Stud for a $4,400 (inc gst) fee.

– Karl Patterson

KING SAUL
Northerly Stakes winner for Flying Pegasus