It was all going to plan with 100 metres left to run in Sunday's $150,000 Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Launceston, with the favourite Needs Sugar holding second elect Cairns, but the party was just about to be spoiled.
Flashing home out wide came the Needs Further gelding The Spirit Of Zero to credit his trainer, owner, and breeder Yassy Nishitani with a career highlight, and jockey Ismail Toker his second win in the feature in three years.
Well back early, The Spirit Of Zero joined a packing field before the home turn but left it until the final few strides to assert his superiority.
The 2yo gelding defeated the odds-on favourite Needs Sugar by a long head to credit Needs Further with the quinella. Star Thoroughbreds Stratosphere filly Cairns was a neck back in third.
The Spirit Of Zero finished second at his career debut on the Devonport Tapeta on December 23 before opening his winning account three weeks later over 1100m at Launceston.
"I did not have a lot of confidence in him (winning from where he was) because I have never won a big race, but I have always had confidence in his ability," Yassy Nishitani said.
"I'm so happy because we bred him and have the broodmare as well."
Ismail Toker rode Turk Warrior to victory in the Gold Sovereign in 2021 and said winning the race for former jockey Yassy Nishitani was a thrill.
"It's special to win a big race for Yassy Nishitani; he is the hardest-working man in the industry," Toker said.
The Spirit Of Zero is the first foal of the unraced Pierro mare Fuji Spirit, which was purchased for a head-scratching $7,273 when offered by Morning Rise Stud at the 2019 Inglis 2019 April Monthly Online Sale.
Fuji Spirit is a daughter of the outstanding filly Yosei (Invincible Spirit), whose four wins included three at the elite level, ATC Sires' Produce Stakes, Qld Tatt's Tattersall's Tiara, and VATC Thousand Guineas.
Fuji Spirit has a yearling filly by Palatino and was covered by Frosted (USA) last spring.
The Spirit Of Zero is the seventh stakes-winner for Armidale Stud's Encosta De Lago stallion Needs Further.
