Sunshine bright in Sheraco

IN between autumn and spring preparations, the Annabel Neasham-trained Invader filly Sunshine In Paris changed hands at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for A$3.9 million, having started just five times for a Group 1 Surround Stakes victory.

Sporting the colours of Fairway Thoroughbreds last Saturday, Sunshine In Paris went some way to franking such a sale with an impressive Group 2 Sheraco Stakes win at Rosehill over 1,200 metres, running a race record of 1m 08.8secs.

“I was quite nervous before,” said Neasham. “She was obviously a big price tag at the mares’ sale so a bit of pressure racing her on and trying to get more Group 1s on the board for her. She never used to be that straightforward but she’s very trainable now and we’ve had a really smooth preparation into this.”

Rounding up the leaders from the rear of the field, Sunshine In Paris defeated the Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Espiona, an Extreme Choice mare, with the Brazen Beau mare Zapateo third.

Sunshine In Paris will take the Aquis slot for the $20 million Everest on October 14th.“It’s exciting to have my first runner in The Everest,” said Neasham. “I’ve thought for quite a while now that Sunshine In Paris was good enough for The Everest and her first-up win was very impressive so it’s a relief the deal has been done. Our plan now is to keep the mare fresh and happy and she will go straight into The Everest without another start. We also have the ($10 million) Golden Eagle for her after The Everest.”

Cylinder shapes well for Rose

THE Exceed And Excel colt Cylinder shot to the top of the Group 1 Golden Rose calculations with a hard fought win in the Group 2 Run To The Rose over 1,200 metres at Rosehill on Saturday.

In the field of nine, Nash Rawiller found himself two pairs back from the leaders and one off the fence on rounding the bend. With the gate shut, Cylinder was quickly running out of time for a clear gap.

Not until the final 100 metres was Rawiller able to open up his stride, as Cylinder dug in to run down the Snitzel colt Moravia by a half-head as the Xtravagant colt Nadal was a further head back in third.

“He’s a crack colt. He was our best two-year-old last season and it’s great for the stable he’s now come back and he’s two out of two,” said Godolphin’s trainer James Cummings.

Stretch

“He’s setting himself up very well for the early part of the spring. I think the Golden Rose looks very nice for the horse. He will have to stretch to seven (furlongs) but two runs under the belt, he can certainly do that.”

Second in the Golden Slipper last season to Shinzo, Cylinder was the first leg of a treble for Godolphin who also had wins with the Astern horse Golden Mile in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes and the Ribchester filly Red Card in an 1,100 metre handicap.