After having little luck behind Bella Nipatina in The Everest and Russel Balding Stakes, luck seemed to have deserted Sunshine In Paris again in Saturday’s $3,000,000 Group 1 Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington before James McDonald weaved his magic.
Scything through between Streten Angel and Baraqiel at the 100m, the 5-year-old daughter of Invader defeated the Zoustar mare Right To Party by a short-head with the same distance back to the very gallant Pride Of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina in third.
The Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes winner at Randwick in April, Sunshine In Paris advances her record to six wins, three seconds and a third from 13 starts with earnings of $4,762,025.
Purchased by Champagne Bloodstock for $90,000 when offered Blue Sky Premium Consignment at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Sunshine In Paris made $3,9000,000 to the bid of James Harron, on behalf of John Camilleri, from the Newgate Consignment through the same ring a year later.
“She was amazing. I was a little bit worried pre-race because she was parading quite quietly,” co-trainer Annabel Neasham said.
“We’ve never backed her up before and she’s had the trip, but she was phenomenal. Amazing ride by James.
“The plan was to try and be a bit closer because the last couple of runs she’, maybe due to the barriers, she’s just ended up too far back. But she’s just got such a strong finish. It was just waiting for that gap, but we had the right man on board.
“She’s such a special horse. I’m so grateful to John Camilleri. He purchased her when I was already training her, and there was no guarantee she would come back to me. So to put her back in our stable and give us the faith with her, I’m just glad we can repay him. And it’s amazing for (co-trainer) Rob (Archibald) as well, his first Group One winner.
“It’s just a massive team effort. We’ve got a big team but they’re all amazing. Everybody grafts hard. She’s not that straightforward, this filly. But everybody has made her who she is. It’s not just Rob and I, it’s the whole team. And this day’s been good to us.”
James McDonald was uncertain if he had won.
“I had the grey horse to my inside, and I would have been a certainty beaten if I didn’t get out. But I had the mare to do it and, geez, I’m rapt.
“Well, the pace quickened probably a furlong sooner than I wanted. And I elected not to go. At the 300m, I was cursing myself. I was saying, ‘you dumb bugger’.”
“I’m rapt. I’m so blessed to ride such highly talented horses. They get you out of trouble. And I’ve only just started, baby.”
Bred by Aquis Sunshine In Paris is a three-quarter sister to the Group III Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Macroura (Snitzel), out of the Zabeel mare Zenaida, a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Vosne Romanee.
Zenaida sold for $1.4million and Macroura sold for $1.5million at the National Broodmare Sale. Both of them going to Yulong. Zenaida was in foal to Maurice (Jpn) and Macroura to Deep Field.
Zenaida has a yearling Maurice (JPN) colt and foaled an Alabama Express filly on September 19. Macroura has a yearling filly by Deep Field and was covered by Pierata last spring.
Invader stands at Aquis for $8,800.
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