African Pulse shines first up

Exciting sprinter African Pulse kicked off his campaign with a brilliant victory at Flemington on Saturday, the handsome four-year-old always travelling well in the 1000m dash and looking to have the race won a long way from home.

Recording the fourth win from his nine start career, the good-looking entire sprinter clear over the final stages - his winning margin an impressive 2.3 lengths.

Which was of no surprise to the stable, African Pulse always held in high regard.

"We threw him into the deep end last time in," Michael Moroney said, "and he was not far off the best sprinters."

"The trip to Sydney did him good," he continued, "and we'd like to think that he will fit into the major sprint races over the spring."

The win was a big thrill for apprentice Harry Kasim - his first Flemington success on his last day of riding in Melbourne before he heads to Singapore to ride for the Stephen Burridge stable.

"I have ridden him in a few trials so I know the horse really well," he said.

"He showed good speed today and I had to try to hold him up. But at the 400m I said 'come on son' and off he went!"

A NZ$130,000 Karaka graduate seletcted by Paul Moroney, African Pulse is raced by the Ark Syndicate, Rupert & Cheryl Legh Racing, Noel & Juddith Griffin, C Gasper, Con Barbayannis, Paul Williams, Con Tangalakis and the Tirileni, Wright Racing and Glm Syndicates.

He is a son of Hennessy's six times Gr.1 winner Johannesburg out of an imported half sister to the UK stakes winners Governor Brown and Hataab. Queensland Oaks winner Zagalia hails from this family as does the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Levmoss.

Thanks to Darryl Sherer for his photo.