Brilliant filly Sunlight was too strong for the colts in scoring a courageous win the 2018 Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington today.

Sunlight, above in the white colours, holds out the colts to win the 2018 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Sunlight was the only filly in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and her 2kg advantage over the colts proved vital in the run to the line.

“She was too good for the colts through her two year old days and they get that beautiful 2kg off them,” winning trainer Tony McEvoy said.

Winning jockey Luke Currie settled Sunlight ($5.50) at the rump of the leader Written By ($4) and stalked the Grahame Begg trained colt all the way down the Flemington straight until the 250m when he released the brakes with the filly showing a tenacious will to win.

James McDonald, on the Chris Waller trained $3.40 favourite Zousain, sat on the back of Sunlight and had her in his sights from the start and looked to have her measure when he peeled out from behind at the right time.

Sunlight got the better of Written By at the 100m and even though Zousain tried hard, he was unable to pick the filly up and she went on to claim her first Group 1 trophy.

Zousain’s stablemate Lean Mean Machine ($10) was also up just behind the leaders and Hugh Bowman decided to stick to the inside fence to fill third position just ahead of the fourth placed Written By.

“It was a big call to take these colts with this filly,” McEvoy said.

“I have got that much faith in her and she was there for the fight today and those colts had their chance to get.”

“She is a courageous super star and couldn’t be more proud of her.”

“She didn’t get a lot of cover and she was there in the breeze,”

The first three placegetters, Sunlight, Zousain and Lean Mean Machine, are all by the emerging super star stallion Zoustar who won the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2013.