The brilliant daughter of Zoustar showed speed throughout and under the urgings of talented international jockey Barend Vorster she proved much too good.
The $300,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from Widden Stud has been a star during her racing career, one which shot to prominence on the Gold Coast last year when she won the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Late last year she beat the best sprinting three-year-olds in the country with a dashing win in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Today she rose another level to beat the country’s leading sprinters in brilliant style leading the likes of Osborne Bulls, Brave Smash and Graff in her wake.
“She’s an incredible filly isn’t she,” winning trainer Tony McEvoy said. “She keeps stepping up to the plate.”
“The further she gets into her prep the better she gets. She was so strong at the end of that 1200 today.”
“I know she had a light weight, 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 confirmed it today. It’s an amazing ride she’s given us. She’s been a pleasure to train and she’s got what most haven’t.”
The win provided the best welcome to Australia for top class international jockey Barend Vorster who recently linked up with the powerful McEvoy Mitchell stable.
The South African jockey was a star for many years in Singapore and regularly fought out finishes with champion hoop Joao Moreira.
“I have to thank Tony and his team for associating me with a filly like her,” Vorster said. “She gave me a beautiful ride.”
“She bounced beautifully, she relaxed beautifully. I was biding my time going to the 400 – she was just cruising along. She was just waiting for me to press the button.”
“Through the 200 and to the clock tower and I gave her a couple and she just extended again,” Vorster added.
Sunlight is a great advertisement for the Magic Millions sales calendar.
She herself was a $300,000 buy for Aquis Farm, McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock from Widden Stud at the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Her dam, the group winner Solar Charged (Charge Forward), was purchased from the National Broodmare Sale specifically for a date with the hot young Widden Stud sire Zoustar, himself another purchase through the famous Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
A winner of the Kindergarten Stakes and Thoroughbred Club Stakes, Solar Charged is also the dam of the group performer Sheikha and the exciting juvenile Sisstar, who was fourth at Group Three level on debut last November for the McEvoy stable.
Winner: Sunlight
Breeding: Zoustar-Solar Charged (Charge Forward)
Race: VRC Newmarket Handicap G1 (1200m)
Sold for: $300,000
Sale: 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Widden Stud
Buyer: Aquis Farm/McEvoy Mitchell/Blue Sky
Earnings: $3,829,950
Owner(s): Mrs L Fung, Ms RC Parker, Mrs IE Mitchell, Mrs KL Thompson, Mrs RJ Fletcher, Miss SR Fletcher, Miss JR Fletcher, Qatar Bloodstock (Mgr: D Redvers) & G1G Racing & Breeding (Mgr: Mrs TL Vogel)
Trainer: Tony McEvoy (Flemington)
