A rising star in Australia’s stallion ranks, Ole Kirk sired his third individual first crop Stakes winner on Saturday with Prestige Forever producing a dominant victory in the Listed MVRC Moonee Valley Pearl over 1200m.

Trained at Mornington by David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins, the talented 2YO was narrowly beaten on debut in the Listed TAB We’re On at Flemington three weeks ago but made light work of Saturday’s assignment. Cleanly away from the gates, the colt settled just off the leaders and showed a brilliant turn of foot on the home bend before powering away from his rivals to win by 3.8 lengths.

“He ran really well first up, and just probably overdid it a little bit, but it was really good to see him get a good run in transit today and he was really strong late,” said co-trainer Matt Jenkins post-race.

“He’s probably not quite fully developed, but in what he’s done so far, he’s been really impressive. He was bought by a really high-profile owner of ours called Eric Leung, who’s a massive supporter of his stable, so well done to him and his family.

“We earmarked this race post his first-up run, but where he goes from here on I’m not sure, I’ll speak to David (Brideoake) and see what he thinks, but he looks like he’s got a bright future and there are several options, Sydney and Adelaide look very enticing.”

Out of the multiple Group Three-winning mare Cool Passion, Prestige Forever was a $400,000 yearling purchase from the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for his owner Eric Leung who is enjoying fantastic success with Ole Kirk’s first crop. Yeung’s colours are also carried by recent Ballarat winner, Prestige Ole.

Ole Kirk has now produced three Stakes winners and seven winners from just 12 runners. He is the leading First Season Sire in Australia and is second only to Snitzel on the 2YO sires table.

Ole Kirk’s progeny will no doubt be in hot demand at the upcoming Easter Inglis Yearling Sale where he has 10 lots catalogued to sell, including a full sister to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner O’Ole.

Vinery will offer two outstanding yearlings by Ole Kirk as part of its 14-strong draft. The first of these is Lot 17, a filly out of the Group One-placed mare Lady Cuvee (NZ) (Savabeel) from the family of Rangirangdoo and Shout The Bar. The second is Lot 339, a colt out of Dana Point (I Am Invincible) whose page carries an abundance of back type.