Trainer Tony McEvoy couldn’t be more pleased with his stable ace Sunlight after her winning Randwick trial on Monday ahead of her 2019 The Everest campaign this spring.
Sunlight looks on track for the 2019 The Everest in Sydney this spring. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The now four-year-old daughter of Zoustar impressed hoop Luke Currie in her second hit-out since running third behind Santa Ana Lane in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) back in early April.
Sunlight cruised to a half-length win in 52.56 seconds over the 900m Group & Listed trial on the course proper at Randwick, ticking the boxes ahead of her spring preparation.
“He [Currie] thought Sunlight was her normal self and really enjoyed her work,” McEvoy told the media post-trial.
“We will give Sunlight another trial on the 27th.”
A genuine superstar of the turf boasting three Group 1 wins in Melbourne, Sunlight will run for slot-holder Max Whitby in this year’s $14 million The Everest (1200m) on October 19.
She will contest the world’s richest turf race four runs into her preparation, which is scheduled to kick-off on September 7 at Randwick in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m).
“Sunlight will still have three runs into The Everest through the Concorde, The Shorts and Premiere,” McEvoy confirmed.
“The deeper she gets into the prep, the better she goes so we won’t be changing that model but today was a good starting point.”
The Group 2 $500,000 The Shorts (1100m) runs at Randwick on George Main Stakes Day (September 21) followed by the Group 2 $500,000 Premiere Stakes (1200m) on Epsom Day (October 5).
Before the TJ Smith Stakes during ‘The Championships’, Sunlight’s other most recent run in Sydney was back in March of 2018 as a two-year-old when third behind Estijaab in Rosehill’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m).
As a juvenile she won the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill and the Gold Coast’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) but is yet to win at Randwick Racecourse.
Current all-in The Everest 2019 odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au list Sunlight as a $9 chance with markets led by the world’s highest-rated sprinter, TJ Smith champ Santa Ana Lane ($5).
