Leading first season sire Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) has struck early in the new European flat season with a stakes-winning 3YO this week at the prestigious Craven Stakes meeting at Newmarket in England.

The highly regarded, John Gosden-trained 3YO Kick On was resuming his career in the Listed Feilden Stakes, a race previously used by Gosden to launch European Horse Of The Year and Champion 3YO Golden Horn on his glittering race career.

A Newmarket 2YO winner, Kick On built on his close-up finish (beaten 2 lengths) in the Gr.1 Doncaster Futurity Trophy (formerly Racing Post) last October, displaying all the resolute qualities of his sire Charm Spirit in the 9 furlong event to defeat another highly regarded colt Walkinthesand (Footstepsinthesand) by a neck with that pair pulling 4 ½ lengths clear of third-placed Boerhan (Sea The Stars).

Kick On joins Yourtimeisnow and Aretha, who landed the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes(1200m) prior to running a half-length second in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), as stakes winners for Charm Spirit, who is currently serving his fifth season in England before shuttling back to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand for the 2019 breeding season.

Europe’s second leading first season sire in 2018, Charm Spirit is also New Zealand’s leading first season sire and he has been represented recently by Group performed 3YO filly Epistrophy (3^rd Paris Longchamp Prix De La Grotte, Gr.3) and impressive second-crop 2YO debut winner Lambeth Walk as well as a host of trials winners in New Zealand.

A triple Gr.1 winning son of Invincible Spirit, Charm Spirit’s stocks are on the rise and he looks an exciting young stallion prospect for the future.