Sunlight Shines at Caulfield

Outstanding Zoustar filly Sunlight was back to her brilliant best at Caulfield on Saturday, leading throughout to win the Group III MRC Thoroughbred Club Stakes as she pleased.

Prepared by Tony McEvoy, Sunlight won the Group III MRC Quezette Stakes in August before having an eight week let up and was tuned up for her return with a recent trial win in Adelaide.

Drawn near the outside, she jumped fast, quickly took up the lead for Luke Currie and was never really challenged in coasting home to win the 1200 metre sprint by a length and a quarter.

Group I goals are now on the horizon for Sunlight, who took her record to an impressive seven wins from 10 starts with prizemoney topping $2.3 million.

“I’m thinking the Manikato (G1 Stakes) with her, 51 kilograms around Moonee Valley, she’ll take some catching and a lot of the horses that are going to be in that race will be running around on a heavy track up in Sydney today,” Tony McEvoy said.

A $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 and runs for an all women’s syndicate that includes Widden Stud’s Katie Thompson.

Sunlight is a half-sister to Group III placed Sheikha and 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 called Sisstar, who was knocked down to McEvoy Mitchell Racing/David Redvers Bloodstock for $600,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Solar Charged has a yearling Sebring colt and will foal again this spring to Widden Stud’s outstanding young sire Zoustar, who stands this spring at a fee of $60,500.