3 minute read

A sparkling piece of work from outstanding filly Sunlight at Werribee on Friday has trainer Tony McEvoy predicting even bigger things from the three-year-old this autumn.

Ridden by Luke Currie, Sunlight sped to an impressive win in a jumpout as she prepares for her return to racing in the Lightning Stakes over 1000m at Flemington on February 16.

"It’s scary to think she might be going better, but the signs are excellent,” McEvoy said after the workout.

“She dominated the trial and looked really composed in her action. It was really enjoyable to watch.

"I think she's probably furnished and matured a little bit more, which is only going to make her better.

"She has strengthened and that is incredible to say because she has always been big and strong.”

McEvoy is also delighted to see Sunlight is a more composed filly than the one he had to deal with last year.

"We're so blessed to have her. To see her come back like that is really exciting,” McEvoy said.

Sunlight was spelled after getting her deserved first Group One win against the colts in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in November.

It took 12 starts for the filly to notch her first G1 win after a testing 2018 campaign that saw her win the Magic Millions Classic, Silver Slipper Stakes and Magic Night Stakes and finish third in the Golden Slipper Stakes.

McEvoy has two of the best best fillies in the land with fellow G1 winner Oohood preparing to kick off her new campaign in Sydney.

Oohood, who ended her run of luckless placings with a G1 win in the Flight Stakes at Randwick in September, had an easy trial at Rosehill last Tuesday.

She is set to resume in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick on February 16.

Oohood, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, has been entered for the $US6 million Dubai Turf at Meydan on March 30.

McEvoy said the G1 Surround Stakes and G1 Coolmore Classic are obvious Sydney targets for Oohood but is prepared to take the filly to Dubai if her owner makes the call.

"If Sheikh Khalifa is keen to go and she's in the right form then we'll probably run her at Meydan," McEvoy said.

"She dominated the trial."

Sunlight is back bigger than ever, tipping the scales at over 560kgpic.twitter.com/27Xyvh9Dk3

— Racing.comFebruary 1, 2019