Her coat is yet to come through and she isn’t completely wound-up, but Sunshine In Paris has still managed to make a sparkling Everest statement with a dynamite win the Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill.
Claiming the scalp of Joliestar, who had been equal favourite for the $20 million showpiece before Saturday, Sunshine In Paris ($3.80) relished the strong tempo set by former New Zealander Belclare, ripping home to overpower Mumbai Muse ($18) by a short neck.
Joliestar ($1.80 fav) wasn’t able to sprint with the winner, finishing another 1-3/4 lengths away third.
Winning jockey Tommy Berry let out a roar as he went over the line, which had more to do with what was left in the tank than her Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) win.
“I’m not sure if I’m smiling about today or what’s to come with her,” Berry said.
“You saw in the yard, she has just got so much improvement when it comes to her coat.
“I couldn’t hide my excitement after I galloped her last Saturday (between races at Randwick). She just put in one of those bits of work where you get goosebumps.
“She was the meat in the sandwich today. She was in the middle, she was taking Joliestar into the race and when I first let down, I thought, well she can’t beat me because they don’t go any quicker than what I’m going. I just had to pick up Mumbai Muse, who I know very well and who is very tough.”
Sunshine In Paris went back-to-back in the fillies and mares’ feature, which she claimed 12 months ago to snare an Everest slot, although a setback meant she never got to her target.
This time around, with the mare’s owner John Camilleri an Everest slot holder, trainer Annabel Neasham has been able to take her time with the mare, knowing her spot in the October sprint is sewn up.
“She’s probably not quite as wound-up as I had her in the Sheraco twelve months ago because we needed a slot then, but we’ve got one this year,” Neasham said.
“We’ve managed to go really slowly with her this preparation.
“She goes so well fresh, so we thought we’d run her here then probably go straight to the Everest in five weeks. That was a pretty good performance.”
Neasham will look to trial Sunshine In Paris before The Everest (1200m), which is at Randwick on October 19.
Kerrin Mcevoy wasn’t disappointed in the performance of Joliestar, saying the race set-up came against her.
“I was pleased with her run still. It was a bit of a funny race,” McEvoy said.
“We had to just come back behind Sunshine In Paris to get some cover, and then after a furlong, they went at a solid pace.
“Just after that devastating win the other day, she popped out to make headway all the way up the running but she didn’t sort of dash like she did the other day.”
Joliestar has drifted slightly in Everest betting to $9 with Sunshine In Paris firming form $15 into $8 following her Rosehill win.