Talented Invader mare Sunshine in Paris closed out her three year-old season with a win in the Group I ATC Surround Stakes and was then sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for a whopping $3.9million to James Harron Bloodstock.
Now sporting the colours of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, Sunshine in Paris remained with her original trainer Annabel Neasham after the sale and she had the mare fit and ready to fire first up.
With two trials under her belt, Sunshine in Paris travelled sweetly back in the field for Ryan Maloney and let down with a terrific turn of foot to surge past the leaders and win the Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes (1200m) by a length and a half over Group I Coolmore Classic winner Espiona, who was also sensational in her spring return.
"I was quite nervous before. She was obviously a big price tag at the mares' sale so a bit of pressure racing her on and trying to get more Group Ones on the board for her," Neasham said after the race.
"She never used to be that straightforward but she's very trainable now and we've had a really smooth preparation into this.
"I'm delighted as well for Ryan Maloney, who has given up the top dog job in Queensland to come down here. She was probably the drawcard for him, and he's going to have a bit of fun on her over the next few starts."
Sunshine in Paris ran a race record time of 1.08.80 seconds in the Sheraco, so a tilt at the $20million Everest is obviously a lot more than a pipedream.
"We're happy to take a spot (Everest slot)," Neasham said.
"I think she's good enough, she's shown that today.
"She was first-up and we had her ready to go, she's the sort of filly that goes quite well fresh so she could just keep bobbling along to The Everest in the middle of October."
Sunshine in Paris sold for $3.9million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and at the same sale her dam Zenaida sold for $1.4million and her older three-quarter sister Macroura sold for $1.5million, both of them going to Yulong. Zenaida was in foal to Maurice (Jpn) and Macroura to Deep Field.
Sunshine in Paris was bred by Aquis and sold initially as an unraced two year-old filly in the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2022 for $90,000 and has the overall record of four wins and two placings from six starts with prizemoney just shy of $700,000.
Sunshine in Paris is the best performer to date for her young sire Invader, the Group I winning son of Snitzel stands at Aquis in Queensland at a fee of $11,000.
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