Outstanding Perth three-year-old King Saul will clash with the older horses in the Kingston Town Stakes after he scored a brilliant win in Saturday’s Group Two Western Australian Guineas (1600m).

Sent out the second favourite, King Saul relished the step up to 1600 metres and was able to produce a barnstorming finish under Craig Williams to score.

Trainer Trevor Andrews said the handsome son of Flying Pegasus, one of the most admired colts at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, would now be tested at racing’s elite level.

“After his last start there were a few negatives around for him, but with the conditions of the race he just got out of his ground,” Andrews said of his last start when he chased home Guineas favourite Ron’s Call.

“We went for the blinkers and we were fortunate enough to book Craig Williams – the horse’s work had been super.”

“He’d been really looking for the mile. I’m really over the moon to get the job done today.”

“I’d like to thank my wife Joanne for all of the work she’s done on him and all my staff. It’s a testing time of year and this is the time you need to put your hand up to be counted.”

“I’d like to thank (senior part owner) Craig Thompson and all of his crew for supporting me with this quality of horse.”

“We paid $120,000 for him as a yearling – he always looked a nice horse.”

“He’s always shown well above average ability. He’s bred to get a mile to 2000 metres – he’s got a really bright future.”

“It’s onto the Kingston Town (Stakes) from here and I’m really, really happy.”

“He gets in (the Kingston Town) with 52. It really looks like the 1800 metres is going to be a suitable trip for him and hopefully we can book Craig to ride him.”

“It would be only if he didn’t pull up that well that we wouldn’t go that way. But the way he raced – it’s onwards and upwards.”

King Saul is the first group winner for his sire, the young Fusaichi Pegasus sire Flying Pegasus – a resident of Touchstone Farm.

He was bred and sold by Namerik Thoroughbreds and they are preparing a half brother to King Saul by top WA based sire Oratorio (Stravinsky) for February’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

King Saul is one of two winners, from two to race, for the winning Zabeel mare Zenda.

Zenda is a half sister to the New Zealand based stakes winners Pins ‘n’ Needles and Coup Fieldes.

The next crop of Flying Pegasus youngsters will go under the hammer at February’s 2012 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

Winner: King Saul
Breeding: Flying Pegasus-Zenda (Zabeel)
Race: WATC Western Australian Guineas G2 (1600m)
Sold for: $120,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Namerik Thoroughbreds
Buyer: Mount Hallowell Stud
Earnings: $336,650
Owner(s): Mount Hallowell Stud (Mgr: CG Thompson) & MJ Young
Trainer: Trevor Andrews (Ascot)