breednet.com.au

Sunlight Claims a Third Group One

Tara Madgwick - Friday March 22
Zoustar filly Sunlight elevated her claim to be one of the all time great sprinting fillies when scoring a bold front running win in the Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Newmarket winner Sunlight is a winner again - image Grant CourtneyPrepared by Tony McEvoy and partnered by Luke Currie, she made light work of an outside gate, spearing across to take the lead before cruising home to win the 1200 metre weight-for-age sprint by three-quarters of a length from the fast finishing Spright.

Her expected rivals for the lead in Written by and Fell Swoop had nothing to offer leaving Sunlight to set the pace and take the win.

"To do what she's done at this point in her career is just amazing," said Luke Currie.

"She must have read the papers and knew about the wide gate as she was as quick from the gates as I've ever ridden her.

"They have to have the x-factor to be as good as her and she has it!"

A brilliant winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and then a Golden Slipper place-getter last season, Sunlight won the Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring beating the colts, then won the Group I Newmarket under handicap conditions and has now won a weight-for-age sprint leaving no stone unturned on her CV.

"What a star!" said Tony McEvoy.

"She just rises to the occasion in these big races. I'm so proud of her I can't tell you."

A champion in the making - Sunlight as a yearlingA $300,000 Magic Millions purchase for Aquis/McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Blue Sky Bstock from the Widden Stud draft, Sunlight was bred in partnership by Widden Stud, whose Katie Thompson also shares in her ownership.

Sunlight has won 10 of 15 starts and over $4million in prizemoney and is a half-sister to Group III placed Sheikha. She is the third winner from former speedy filly Solar Charged, winner of the Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes at her second start.

Solar Charged has a two year-old full sister to Sunlight who was knocked down to McEvoy Mitchell Racing/David Redvers Bloodstock for $600,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is named Sisstar. She has had one start to date finishing fourth in the Group III VRC Otttawa Stakes in the spring.

Solar Charged's Sebring colt will be a star lot for Widden Stud at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 274.

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



Advertisment
More Reading...
G3 Win for Sunlight Sister
Stakes-placed earlier this year in Adelaide, three year-old Zoustar filly Sisstar has taken a little longer to hit winning form than her famous older sister Sunlight, but she claimed a valuable Black Type success at Flemington on Oaks Day when leading all the way to win the Group III VRC Red Roses Stakes (1100m).
Inglis April (Late) Sale capacity 540 quality lots - Yulong Draft of 31
Extraordinary demand has resulted in a ‘full’ catalogue of 540 lots for the Inglis Digital April (Late) Sale.
Vale, Lonhro - The Ultimate Thoroughbred
It is with a heavy heart Godolphin Australia announce the passing of former Darley stallion, Lonhro.
Coolmore Secure $500,000 Zoustar Colt
Some people may have wondered at Coolmore’s Tom Magnier paying $500,000 for a Zoustar colt early in the sale at Magic Millions on Wednesday, but when you hear what his breeder John North of Bowness Stud has to say about him you can see why this colt is seen as having serious potential.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were eight heats for two year-olds at Canterbury on Friday and with the rich Brisbane Winter Carnival on the horizon it’s well worth keeping an eye on the progress of these late season unraced juveniles that include the most expensive filly sold in Australia last year.
Zoustyle Does it Again!
"The guys that own him were really disappointed when he drew wide but I said to them when he came over here and worked on Tuesday, 'this is really his favourite track’, he gets himself into such a good rhythm here and it's the only race all Summer that I had an opportunity to bring him back here to Doomben," Gollan said.
Sires With Winners - Thursday April 18
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New Japanese Stallion for Yulong 2024 and Full Roster of Fees
Yulong have announced fees for 2024 on a power packed roster of eight stallions with a new addition to the ranks and Written Tycoon again listed as Private. 
Sires With Winners - Friday April 19
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Best On Breeding
Emirate Park Stud's homebred Tassort filly Manaal will stake her claim for Champion Two-Year-Old in Saturday's $750,000 Group 1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.