The legacy of the late I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) lived on at Benalla on Tuesday when his half-brother Primal Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit) saluted on debut for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Primal Spirit, who jumped $2.70 favourite, lifted from a seemingly unwinnable position at the top of the straight to run over the top of $101 outsider Grisbi’s Pal (Palentino) by the barest of margins.
The son of Charm Spirit cost connections Ace Bloodstock A$240,000 when purchased as a yearling on the Gold Coast.
“I wasn’t expecting him to finish so strongly,” jockey Tom Stockdale said.
“It’s good to see him put a win up on the board and once he learns his caper, he is going to be an even better horse.
“When they went to steady, he was a bit reactive, but I think that’s going to come with experience.”
The Price and Kent Jnr stable also trained I’m Thunderstuck’s full brother Struck Twice (NZ) – who broke his maiden at Wodonga last year – for OTI Racing.
I’m Thunderstruck passed away in March last year after amassing more than A$8.3 million in prizemoney.
OTI Racing also owns a two-year-old colt from the mare by Ocean Park named Oceanside (NZ), who is trained by Chris Waller.
Another son of Ocean Park from Primadonna Girl (NZ) (Edenwold) will be offered at the yearling sales in Melbourne in March.
