Primal Spirit, a Charm Spirit gelding and half-brother to the late Group 1 winner I'm Thunderstruck, made a triumphant debut at Benalla on Tuesday.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, who also guided I'm Thunderstruck, the three-year-old son of Charm Spirit started as the +170 favourite and finished strongly, clinching victory by a nose over the +10000 outsider Grisbi's Pal.
Jockey Thomas Stockdale expressed his surprise, saying, “I wasn't expecting him to finish so strongly.
“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.”
Primal Spirit was purchased for $240,000 by Mick Price and Ace Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.