Sunlight Sister Breaks Moonee Valley 955m Course Record

A full sister to triple Group I winner and $6.5 million earner Sunlight, Sisstar was a newsmaker in her own right at Moonee Valley on Friday night when setting a new course record on her way to winning the final of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge over 955m.

Prepared by Sunlight’s co-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Sisstar was first up from a spell after winning a Magic Millions feature race at Ballarat in November and the Group III winner showed her class under a great ride from apprentice Matthew Cartwright.

He tracked the leaders from barrier one and although briefly held up for a run, was able to force his way clear to snatch a fast finishing half-length win in 54.45 seconds.

“That’s just incredible, to win the last heat and get the record,” said an elated Tony McEvoy, who will bank a $55,000 cheque for the trainer of the fastest heat winner of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Series.

“That was really exciting, Matty Cartwright showed a lot of maturity, we’ll be using him again!”

A $600,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft for McEvoy Mitchell Racing/David Redvers Bstock, Sisstar runs for a syndicate that includes many of the same owners involved in Sunlight and has the overall record of five wins from 14 starts with prizemoney topping $466,000.

Bred by Widden Stud in partnership, Sisstar is a full sister to Sunlight and to this season’s stakes–placed 2YO Dio being one of five winners from Group III winner Solar Charged.

Solar Charged has no yearling for the sales this year, but produced a colt by Zoustar last spring and is back in foal to him again.