TORONTO, October 15, 2026 — Souper Survivor will bid to extend his winning form in the Frost King Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, while Stunningly Perfect arrives at the same meeting seeking a third consecutive victory in the South Ocean Stakes. Both seven-furlong contests carry purses of $150,000 and will bring together promising Ontario-sired two-year-olds at different stages of their early careers.
Souper Survivor heads into the Frost King Stakes after an impressive performance in the Bull Page Stakes, while Stunningly Perfect has established a consistent record with successive victories following a narrow defeat on debut. Their respective trainers, Bill Tharrenos and Steven Chircop, will be looking for further progress from their young charges as they step into their next assignments.
Souper Survivor Seeks Another Strong Performance in the Frost King Stakes
Trained by Bill Tharrenos for owners Racing Canada, Inc., and Natural Eight Stable, Souper Survivor will contest the seven-furlong main-track event for Ontario-sired two-year-olds after a convincing victory in the Bull Page Stakes on September 13.
The colt, a son of Souper Speedy out of the Rockport Harbor mare Bear’s Kitty Kitty, faced five rivals in the six-and-a-half-furlong contest for Ontario-sired two-year-old colts and geldings. After facing a challenge turning for home, Souper Survivor found another gear in the closing stages and drew clear to win by five-and-a-quarter lengths.
Bred by John Carey, Souper Survivor began his career at Woodbine on July 12, breaking his maiden at the first attempt with a commanding 10-and-a-quarter-length victory over five-and-a-half furlongs. That performance earned him a place in the Simcoe Stakes, where he finished third.
Although the Simcoe Stakes did not produce the result connections had hoped for, his subsequent success in the Bull Page Stakes restored momentum to his campaign. From three starts, he has recorded two victories and accumulated $114,308 in purse earnings.
Tharrenos believes the colt has continued to mature and is showing encouraging signs at home. His straightforward temperament and consistent approach to training have also helped the stable prepare him for each assignment.
The Frost King Stakes, however, is expected to provide a fresh examination. Marvellous Marvin brings considerable early speed to the contest, while stablemate Signature Winner also enters with confidence after winning over the same distance last time.
Signature Winner, a son of Signature Red out of the Midnight Lute mare Wild Lute, secured his maiden victory on October 1 over seven furlongs on Woodbine’s main track. He completed the distance in 1:25.10, winning by four lengths.
Bred by the late Howard Walton and owned by Six Brothers Stable, Signature Winner will make his stakes debut on familiar ground. Tharrenos expects the colt’s long stride and finishing ability to be important assets over seven furlongs, particularly as the field approaches the final eighth of a mile.
Tina Wilcox looks after both Signature Winner and Souper Survivor, giving the stable a pair of runners to follow closely in Sunday’s contest.
Souper Survivor Shows Encouraging Form in Recent Workouts
Souper Survivor has completed two five-furlong workouts since his Bull Page Stakes victory. He covered the distance in 1:02.00 on October 3 before improving to 1:01.20 eight days later.
The colt has responded well to the preparation, and the stable has also given him a short freshening period to maintain his condition ahead of the race. Tharrenos is satisfied with his progress and expects him to handle the additional distance.
Signature Winner completed a four-furlong workout in :48.20 on September 6. The exercise was intended to maintain his fitness and keep him settled as preparations continued for his first stakes appearance.
The six-horse Frost King Stakes field features It Wasn’t a Bluff, Marvellous Marvin, Souper Survivor, Magical Trickster, Signature Winner and Slovan.
It Wasn’t a Bluff will be ridden by Desean Bynoe for trainer Devon Gittens. Fraser Aebly takes the mount on Marvellous Marvin for Darwin Banach, while Emma-Jayne Wilson partners Souper Survivor for Tharrenos.
Pietro Moran rides Magical Trickster for Julia Carey. Eswan Flores takes the ride on Signature Winner, also trained by Tharrenos, while Christoff Douglas partners Slovan for Anthony Husbands.
Frost King Carries a Distinguished Racing History
The race honours Frost King, a successful Canadian campaigner whose record extended across several North American racing jurisdictions. He won stakes races in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, as well as at Keeneland and Sportsman’s Park in Chicago, and placed in important contests in Massachusetts, Illinois and Michigan.
In 1981, Frost King represented Canada in the inaugural Japan Cup at the age of three, finishing second. That season, he was named Canada’s champion three-year-old. The following year, he earned Horse of the Year honours along with champion grass horse and older horse titles.
Across 55 career starts, Frost King finished outside the first three on only 15 occasions. He recorded 27 victories, including 21 in stakes races, establishing a notable record in Canadian racing history.
Stunningly Perfect Chases a Third Straight Win in the South Ocean Stakes
Stunningly Perfect will seek to extend her winning sequence when she lines up in Sunday’s $150,000 South Ocean Stakes, a seven-furlong main-track contest for Ontario-sired two-year-old fillies at Woodbine.
Trained by Steven Chircop for Zilli Racing Stables, the filly is a daughter of Perfect Timber out of the Uncle Mo mare Uncle’s Gem. She made her debut on July 26, finishing second behind Awesome Grace, who has since joined the same stable.
Stunningly Perfect returned on August 23 and broke her maiden by seven-and-a-half lengths in a six-furlong contest for Ontario-sired two-year-old fillies. The field had been reduced by late withdrawals, but the filly made the most of the opportunity with a decisive performance.
Chircop had initially considered extending her campaign on turf, believing her pedigree would suit the surface. When that opportunity did not materialise, the stable adjusted its plans and kept her over shorter distances. Her stamina and willingness to settle into her work have since encouraged connections to explore further opportunities.
Her next assignment came in the $150,000 Victorian Queen Stakes on September 13, a six-and-a-half-furlong contest at Woodbine. Stunningly Perfect won by one-and-a-half lengths to register her second consecutive victory.
Her early record has not been without unusual circumstances. The field for her maiden victory was reduced to three runners, while the Victorian Queen Stakes was affected by an incident at the start involving Sarayu, who ducked and lost her rider. Nevertheless, Stunningly Perfect has made considerable progress since her debut, when she was beaten by a neck by Awesome Grace.
Chircop believes experience is helping the filly develop. She remains energetic in training but has shown the ability to settle during a race, allowing her rider to position her according to the pace and circumstances.
From three starts, Stunningly Perfect has recorded two wins and one second-place finish, earning $105,458 in purse money. Bred by Charles Fipke, she was purchased for $2,500 at a Kentucky fall yearling sale in 2025. Ershell Lewin is her groom.
Stunningly Perfect Prepares for the Seven-Furlong Test
Stunningly Perfect completed a four-furlong workout in :47.60 over Woodbine’s main track on October 9.
Her preparation had encountered a minor interruption the previous week when she wheeled around, got loose and ran around the track. She was reported to be unharmed, and the stable subsequently relied on a familiar exercise rider to help her return to routine.
The October 9 workout went well, with the filly also finishing her gallop-out strongly. Chircop and his team were satisfied with the effort as she continued preparations for the South Ocean Stakes.
The seven-horse field includes Whitemudwest, Stunningly Perfect, Sarayu, Tea Biscuit, Tweeternity, Champagne Sunday and Matoaka.
Rafael Hernandez will ride Whitemudwest for Todd Kettleson, while Jose Campos partners Stunningly Perfect for Chircop. Pietro Moran takes the mount on Sarayu for Jamie Begg, and Emma-Jayne Wilson rides Tea Biscuit for Rachel Halden.
Eswan Flores partners Tweeternity for Steve Bryant, Skye Chernetz rides Champagne Sunday for Dave Cotey, and Xarel Forde takes the mount on Matoaka for Carlos Grant.
South Ocean’s Place in Canadian Racing History
The race honours South Ocean, a successful performer who later became an influential broodmare. She won the 1969 Yearling Sales Stakes before capturing the Canadian Oaks in 1970, defeating Fanfreluche, who would go on to earn Horse of the Year honours and enter the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame.
South Ocean’s two-year-old campaign comprised 22 starts, with 17 finishes in the first three. She accumulated $70,147 in purse earnings during that season before making her mark in breeding.
With Souper Survivor and Signature Winner representing the same stable in the Frost King Stakes, and Stunningly Perfect looking to continue her progress in the South Ocean Stakes, Sunday’s programme at Woodbine will provide an important measure of several emerging Ontario-sired runners.
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