Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Sunlight is among the nominations for the 2018 Group 1 $1m ATC Sires’ Produce (1400m) at Randwick on April 7, day one of The Championships.

Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Sunlight, above, is among the nominations for the 2018 ATC Sires' Produce at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Sunlight, above, is among the nominations for the 2018 ATC Sires’ Produce at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Sunlight heads a strong team of seven two-year-olds from the Tony McEvoy stable among the 235 nominations and the Zoustar filly showed her class and ability with a two lengths win in the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.

McEvoy’s other top line two year olds include Kinky Boom, Oohood and Run Naan.

Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller also has a big contingent of two year olds nominated for the Sires’ Produce with the well credentialed Performer and Fiesta heading up his twelve entries.

Performer is undefeated from two race starts while I Am Invincible filly Fiesta was able to score at her third race start when she took out the Group 3 $150,000 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 3.

“Performer wasn’t wound up today, he has only had two fitness-building trials, and he had a 3kg penalty for his Breeders’ Plate win,” Walleer said after Performer narrowly won the Group 3 $150,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 3.

“He is still learning his trade and probably clocked off a little bit, although the second horse dug pretty deep.”

“I know this horse pretty well and he is an exciting colt to be training. I wouldn’t be changing him for anything.’’

The undefeated Long Leaf, who sits at the top of the order of entry for the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24, heads up a massive list of seventeen two year olds nominated from the Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.

Master two year old trainers Peter and Paul Snowden also have plenty of ammunition with twenty youngsters nominated for the Sires’ Produce, with the smart Satin Slipper and Bondi heading up the team.

The first acceptances for the ATC Sires’ Produce are due on Tuesday March 13 with the final field being declared on Tuesday April 3, 2018.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.