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Three-time Group 1-winning filly to sell at Magic Millions
Three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar) - generally regarded as one of the best sprinting mares in recent times - has been retired and will now be offered at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in July.
The daughter of Zoustar (Northern Meteor) won 11 of her 24 starts - including three at Group 1 level - which saw her amass $6,575,950 in career prize-money.
The sale will be somewhat of a homecoming for Sunlight, who was purchased by her trainer Tony McEvoy, Aquis and Blue Sky Bloodstock at the auction houses’ Gold Coast Yearling for $300,000 in 2017.
The filly showed her brilliance as a two-year-old, landing two of her first three starts en route to her fine victory in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m), before taking out the Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) and Magic Night Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m).
On her final start as a juvenile the filly ran a brilliant third behind Estijaab (Snitzel) and stablemate Oohood (I Am Invincible) in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
But it was at three Sunlight really thrived, taking out the highly coveted Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) - leading home a famous trifecta for her sire.
Sunlight’s second Group 1 came when proving too strong for her older rivals in the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m), before beating the older generation again on her next start in the William Reid Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Moonee Valley.
In being offered at the sale Sunlight is following in the footsteps of her own dam - Group 3 winner Solar Charged (Charge Forward) - who was purchased by Widden Stud and Qatar Bloodstock for $650,000 at the 2014 edition of the sale.
Raced as part of the All Girls syndicate, Sunlight is one of four winners out of the Solar Charged, making her a sister to Group 3 scorer Sisstar and half-sister to Group 3-placed Sheikha (Sebring).
Solar Charged herself is a half-sister to Listed winner Causeway Queen (Giant’s Causeway), while further back this is the family of Listed winner Aretha (Sir Dapper) and Sir Linford (Last Tycoon).
Sunlight will head to Widden Stud where she will be prepared for the sale. Widden Stud will be presenting her for sale for the second time having previously sold her as a yearling.
"Sunlight is a true Queen and has been a stunning advertisement for our Champion young sire Zoustar and our farm," Widden Stud's Antony Thompson said.
"We bred a champion who was a life changer and we are honoured to prepare her for the next chapter of her life. She is a foundation mare that screams speed yet oozes quality who I'm sure will leave a legacy at stud."
Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch added: "To be able to offer her on behalf of her ownership group is a great honour for Magic Millions. She has been a wonderful ambassador for the company.
"Sunlight would be an absolute standout for any broodmare band in the world."
The Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale gets underway on July 20.
