Bigger and better races look set to be added to the autumn agenda for the Terry & Karina O’Sullivan-trained Lunar Fox following the underrated colt’s upset 2020 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes win at Flemington on Super Saturday.

Lunar Fox scored an upset in the 2020 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at HQ. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The nicely bred son of Foxwedge went around at a generous quote of $26 in the Group 2 $200,000 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) despite a tough last start win over 1200m at Ballarat when facing the breeze on February 23.

Brett Prebble continued his nice association with the up-and-coming juvenile as Lunar Fox had his fifth career start in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes recording a second win.

It was a turning back of the clock for Prebble and Stawell-based trainer Terry O’Sullivan as the duo had combined 17 years earlier to win the race when it was a Group 1 with Winestock.

“It’s wonderful,” Prebble said.

“He’s my old boss, he started me, made me…there’s no better feeling.”

Prebble gave Lunar Fox the perfect ride in the 2020 VRC Sires’ avoiding the interference happening on his inside that looked to cost the Dwayne Dunn-ridden Ole Kirk victory.

The Lindsay Park-trained Surooj began quick from the inside alley and went straight to the front on the fence to lead the field around from the well-supported Larimer Street.

Lunar Fox meanwhile was positioned just off the pace midfield before joining in strongly on the straight around 250m out form the line.

He moved up to take the lead from Brazen Beau colt Larimer Street who had to settle for another placing having come off a third in the $2 million Inglis Millennium in Sydney on February 12.

On the line Lunar Fox ($26) had about a length to spare over the beaten favourite Larimer Street ($4.80), while the luckless Team Hawkes-trained last-start Talindert Stakes winner Ole Kirk ($4.80) finished third.

“I thought you couldn’t ride a horse any better than he just rode him then,” O’Sullivan said.

“We thought his run at Ballarat was really tough…he’s just an underrated horse but he certainly goes pretty well.”

Prebble indicated post-win that Lunar Fox still had plenty of improvement to come and would make a nice miler over the coming couple of seasons.

“He’s a smart horse this horse,” the hoop said.

“I rode him a bit more cautious today. He give me a good turn of foot. He still gets a bit lost but he’s a proper horse.

“He’ll get a mile easy.

“He’s a beautiful horse and he’s got a great nature.”

Karina O’Sullivan was also pleased with the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes result and was looking forward to the next-up runs from Lunar Fox.

“He’s a nice horse and he deserved it as much as anyone,” she said.

“He was never one of the considered ones (in betting).

“I think he’s still got improvement and growing to do. I hope it’s onwards and upwards from here.”

2020 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes Results