Undefeated Supido Colt Wins $500,000 Sunlight Classic

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 25

It only seemed fitting that the inaugural $500,000 Listed VRC Sunlight Classic (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday would be won by a colt bred and sold by Widden Stud, who produced the champion filly after whom the race is named.

What You Need wins the Sunlight Classic - image Grant Courtney

Exciting Supido colt What You Need kept his unbeaten record intact when he made it three wins in as many starts with a dominant victory over a very competitive field of sprinting three year-olds.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr trained colt was sent to the paddock after a facile debut win at Geelong last spring and returned with a brilliant win at Flemington on March 11.

Advertisement

Ridden by Ben Melham, he was sent out favourite today and raced accordingly chiming in with a powerful run to storm clear and win by a length over Godolphin’s Renosu with classy filly Benedetta in third place.

Ben Melham is forging a good association with the colt having ridden him in each of his three wins.

“He’s had his issues getting here, the Price team have done a good job, and he had that race in his keeping a long way out,” Melham said.

“I was just mindful of the steps ahead in his preparation and he won that race pretty well, but I never pulled the whip on him and he should pull up clean and improve off the back of that.”

Michael Kent Jr was glowing in his post race assessment of What You Need, who heads to Sydney next for the $1million Group II ATC Arrowfield Sprint in two weeks time.

A $180,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft for his trainer, What You Need was bred by Widden in partnership and runs for a syndicate of stable clients with Widden Stud also retaining an interest.

What You Need is headed for Sydney - image Grant Courtney

With three wins from three starts, What You Need has won just over $400,000 in prizemoney and is the second stakes-winner for his young Widden Stud based sire Supido, who was very popular last spring covering 170 mares at a fee of $8,800.

He is a half-brother to Group III winner Runway Star and is the third winner from stakes-placed Commands mare Intuit, a daughter of Group I winner Wrap Around and half-sister to the dams of Champion 2YO Filly Fashions Afield and also this year’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner Fashion Legend.

Intuit had a colt by Zousain last spring and was then covered by Portland Sky.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sunlight Classic LR 1100m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.77
1
What You Need
- 3c Supido (AUS) x Intuit (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Melham 57
Supido
2
1.0
Renosu
- 3g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Ghisoni (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 57
3
1.2
Benedetta
- 3f Hellbent (AUS) x Whatalovelyday (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
Hellbent
4
2.2
She Dances
- 3f Street Boss (USA) x Charleston Dancer (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Ms L J Meech 56
5
2.3
Rich Fortune
- 3f Rich Enuff (AUS) x Nkwazi's Daughter (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: Jerome Hunter Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
6
3.5
Lady Di Di
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Lady Hepburn (NZ) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: J Noonan 55
7
4.0
Greece
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Maastricht (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 55
8
4.8
Wild Belle
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Hi Belle (AUS) (Clangalang (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: Jordan Childs 55
9
7.0
Kaygeebee
- 3g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Iggimacool (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Patrick Moloney 57
10
8.5
Sebonack
- 3g Capitalist (AUS) x Profound Wisdom (AUS) (Al Samer (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 58.5
11
8.9
Arctic Fairy
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Arctic Angel (AUS) (Hard Spun (USA))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Dean Holland 55
12
10.9
Tan Tat Magic
- 3f Street Boss (USA) x Tan Tat Beauty (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: C Newitt 55
13
11.1
Castillian
- 3g Per Incanto (USA) x Anaween (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: H Coffey 57
14
12.4
Lincoln Square
- 3g Rubick (AUS) x Redasun (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: G Eurell Rdr: O P Bosson 57
15
13.1
La Danseuse Rouge
- 3f Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Margaux (IRE) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: D Moor 55
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude Victory To Ferivia
Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
Manaal Wins G2 Golden Pendant – Stakes Double Emirates Park
At the official Sydney 2YO trials two years ago in 2023 two fillies impressed in their heat with Gerringong winning and Manaal finishing a close third and the pair filled the quinella in the $400,000 Group II ATC Golden Pendant (1400m ) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Kiwi Bred Evaporate Wins G3 Sandown Stakes
Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose.
Proisir 6YO Waitak Captures Another G1
Saturday's Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record.
Magic Carpet wins G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas - New SW Satono Aladdin
Talented colt Magic Carpet chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400).
Golden Slipper Winner Marhoona Resumes With Heritage Stakes Win
Having not been seen on race day since her success in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (1200m), Champion 2YO Marhoona (Snitzel) put pay to any ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ to win the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes (1100m) at her first start at 3.
Sensational Winning Return for Supido Colt
Talented Supido colt What You Need kept his record to a perfect two from two when resuming from a spell to win at Flemington on Saturday.
Waterford Wins G2 Shannon Stakes
Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).
Beiwacht Breaks Track Record In G1 Golden Rose Romp
With many of the opinion that Godolphin would provide the winner of this year’s $1m Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m), they were right, but not with the 3yo expected as the Chris Waller trained Bivouac colt Beiwacht was simply sensational in his track record breaking victory.