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Sunlight All The Way In Newmarket

Mark Smith - Saturday March 9

South African born jockey Barend Vorster did not have to wait long to make his mark in Australia and it came on board the star filly Sunlight who kept up a relentless gallop to win Saturday's Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

The former champion jockey in Singapore and many times runner-up to João Moreira, Vorster made all the running on the daughter of Zoustar. She defeated the fast-finishing Osborne Bulls (Street Cry) by three-quarters of a length with Brave Smash (JPN) (Tosen Stardom) another short half-head away third. (images Grant Courtney)


"Australia is my new home now and what a way to start it off," Vorster told AAP.

"When I saw the post become available (with McEvoy) I put my name in the hat.

"Singapore has been good to me but I just felt a change was coming. And what a change to have.

"He's a good trainer and he's got good horses, so I like to be associated with that."

Winner of the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and a Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes last, Sunlight advances her record to 9 wins, 1 second and 3 thirds from 14 starts with earnings of $3,829,950.

She is the first three-year-old filly since Alinghi in 2005 to win the Newmarket.

"Isn't she something special," McEvoy said.

"She's an incredible filly. She keeps stepping up to the plate and the further she gets into her preparation the better she gets.

"She was so strong at the end of 1200 metres today.

"I know she only had 50.5 kilos but she is a three-year-old filly and they were touting it to be one of the best fields.

"She's proven to be a star before today, and she has confirmed it today."

Consigned by Widden Stud to the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Sunlight was purchased for $300,000 by Aquis/McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Blue Sky Bloodstock.

Sunlight is the fourth foal of the brilliantly fast Solar Charged who was bred and raced by Peter Horwitz. She is by the Horwitz raced stallion Charge Forward out of another Horwitz bred and owned mare Soul Singer (Danehill) who was out of another Horwitz owned mare Aretha who was a daughter of the best racehorse to race in the Horwitz silks, the Golden Slipper hero Sir Dapper.


Solar Charged made a winning debut over 1000 metres on the Kensington track back on November 28, 2009.

She became a stakes winner at her next start in the Group III AJC Kindergarten Stakes. Following a third behind Military Rose in the Group II Reisling Stakes, Solar Charged rounded her juvenile season out with a credible sixth in Crystal Lily's Golden Slipper.

After placing in the San Domenico Stakes and Silver Shadow Stakes, Solar Charged won the Group III Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield which proved to be her last victory.

The daughter of Charge Forward placed in the Group II Challenge Stakes and Group III Rubiton Stakes before an embarking on her career as a broodmare.

A half-sister to dual Listed winner Causeway Queen (Giant's Causeway) and the multiple stakes-placed Brave Soul (More Than Ready), Solar Charged had fillies by Lonhro and Street Cry (IRE) before being consigned to the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when in foal to Sebring.

She was knocked down to Widden Stud/Qatar Bloodstock for $650,000.

Sunlight's 2yo sister Sisstar, who was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing/David Redvers Bloodstock for $600,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, finished fourth when making her career debut in the Ottawa Stakes at Flemington last November.

Solar Charged's Sebring colt will be a star lot at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

After foaling a Zoustar colt last October, Solar Charged was covered by the Widden Stud stallion again last spring.


 

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