Triple Group 1 winning filly Sunlight has secures a slot in the 2019 $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.
Sunl;ight, above, has secured a slot in the 2019 The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Sunlight will run in the slot owned by Max Whitby,Neil Werrett, Steve McCann and Colin Madden and trainer Tony McEvoy was quick to announce the new partnership today.
“On behalf of the owners of Champion 3yo filly Sunlight, we are very pleased to announce a partnership with slot holders: Max Whitby, Neil Werrett, Steve McCann & Colin Madden for the 2019 TAB Everest,” McEvoy Mitchell Racing tweeted.
Sunlight shot into the spotlight early in her two year old season with a win in the 2018 $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast before running third in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
The Zoustar filly then went to the next level when she beat the colts and geldings in the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Sunlight then attacked the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and came up trumps with back to back Group 1 wins in the $1.25m Seppelt Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington and in the $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Sunlight then finished third to Santa Ana Lane in the Group 1 $2.5m Aquis T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships on April 6 and McEvoy then put her away hoping to secure an Everest slot.
“I’ll get to work now on how we’ll get her there,” McEvoy said.
“It’s a big contest, even though she won a big contest second-up, the Newmarket, I think third-up, just to make sure everything is ticked off.”.
Slot co-owner Max Whitby said that he was delighted to have Sunlight to run for the syndicate in The Everest and is confident that the rising four year old mare will be very competitive.
“Sunlight is an exciting sprinter, a proven Group 1 winner, and we are just relieved to have her for the Everest,’’ Whitby told The Daily Telegraph.
“We went close a couple of years ago with Vega Magic (second) and hopefully we can go one better this spring.
“Both Neil and I are big fans of Tony McEvoy so it is great to be involved with him and Sunlight.”
“He’s done a great job with Sunlight so far and I know he believes she will be a very good chance in The Everest.’’
Sunlight now joined Santa Ana Lane (slot-holder TAB), Pierata (Aquis) and Classique Legend (owner Bon Ho purchased GPI Racing’s slot for this year only) as a confirmed runner for the 2019 The Everest.
Early betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au has Sunlight on the third line of betting at $7 behind Santa Ana Lane at $5.50 and Osborne Bulls at $6.
Pre-post betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 Santa Ana Lane, $6 Osborne Bulls, $7 Sunlight, $8 Pierata, $10 Classique Legend, $11 Brutal, $13 Alizee, Blue Point, In Her Time, $15 Nature Strip, $17 Graff, $18 Redzel, $21 Hot King Prawn, Vega Magic, $26 Eduardo, Houtzen, Viddora, Zousain, $34 or better the rest.
