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Winx's Half-Sister City Of Lights Makes Winning Debut

Mark Smith - Sunday June 4

An Epsom Derby winner on Saturday and a Geelong maiden winner on Sunday, the late, great Deep Impact (JPN) can do it all.

City Of Lights delivers on debut (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

This was no ordinary winner of a 1418m fillies maiden at Geelong.

It was the highly anticipated debut of City Of Lights, a half-sister to the incomparable Winx.

Ridden by Ben Allen for Anthony & Sam Freedman, City Of Lights enjoyed a cosy under restraint. When asked for an effort,  City Of Lights extended impressively to defeat the experienced Savabeel filly Booboo Boogie by one and a half lengths, with the Russian Revolution filly Kollantai a half-neck back in third.

"The plan was to have her as close as we could without taking her out of her comfort zone,' Allen said. They went at a good gallop, and she took some time to build into it, but she was good late.

"While I was off the bridle, I felt she would hit the line once I got stuck into her. She did that in her trial, so I knew she would have something late.

"She is quite a relaxed filly, but she still got a little worked up today, so patience will be good for her, and she will be better later on."  

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A homebred for John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds, City Of Lights is the eighth foal and fourth winner for the dual stakes-winning Al Akbar mare Vegas Showgirl.

Purchased by Colm Santry, on behalf of John Camilleri, for $455,000 at the 2008 National Broodmare Sale, Vegas Shogirl is the dam of 25-time Group 1 winner and $26,451,175 earner Winx (Street Cry), Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes winner El Divino (Snitzel), Pakenham maiden winner Convent Garden (Exceed And Excel), and Riverbank Farm's unraced Snitzel stallion Boulder City.

What's she worth? (image Reg Ryan/Racing photos)

Peter Moody has an unraced 2yo daughter of Vegas Showgirl named Time Of My Life by I Am Invincible, who is now spelling after impressing in two jumpouts at Pakenham.

Vegas Showgirl has a yearling Pride Of Dubai filly named Taleitaki. After missing in 2021,  Vegas Showgirl was covered by Snitzel in November, having failed to conceive earlier in the season to Street Boss (USA).

Deep Impact (JPN) has left Classic winners in Japan, Australia, England, Ireland, and France.

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Race Result - Bet365 Mdn Plate 1418m

Geelong Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:26.19
1
City Of Lights
- 3f Deep Impact (JPN) x Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Ben Allen 57
2
1.5
Booboo Boogie
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Heyday (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: J Mott 57
3
1.7
Kollantai
- 3f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Magnagem (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Logan McNeil 57
4
2.1
Caesar Cake
- 3f Scissor Kick (AUS) x Moonlight Hussey (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Yendall 57
5
2.3
Unleash
- 3f Capitalist (AUS) x My Donnatella (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: W Egan 57
6
2.7
Spiritual Thinker
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Big Spirit (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: M J Williams Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
7
4.2
Miss Bariloche
- 3f Husson (ARG) x Dandesha (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Bobbin Rdr: John Allen 57
8
4.4
Our Whazy Girl
- 3f Alpine Eagle (AUS) x She's Our Wha Wha (AUS) (Delago Brom (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Payne Rdr: J Noonan 57
9
5.9
Albanian Star
- 3f Scissor Kick (AUS) x Gondola Girl (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P Koumis Rdr: Luke Campbell 55
10
6.1
Carashan Chloe
- 3f Rebel Raider (AUS) x Carashan Girl (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Homann Rdr: Harry Grace 57
11
7.1
Exolazzo
- 3f Exosphere (AUS) x Palazzo Miss (AUS) (Tough Speed (USA))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: C Newitt 57
12
8.6
Kawaiisu
- 3f Tivaci (AUS) x Starstripe (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond Rdr: Madison Lloyd 57
13
11.1
Mornington Missus
- 3f Pluck (USA) x Bahamian Star (AUS) (Bahamian Bounty (GB))
Tnr: Chris Calthorpe Rdr: Ryan Houston 55
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