The two favourites, Sonny Daze and Tigers Roar fought out the finish of the Mekkafest 19 August Maiden Plate at Doomben on Wednesday, and after four seconds, it was time for Sonny Daze to ring up number one.
Ridden by 3kg apprentice Bailey Wheeler for Scott Morrisey, the 2yo son of Performer rounded up the Jungle Cat (IRE) gelding Tiger Roar in the closing stages to open his winning account by a short-neck at his seventh start.
The $251 chance Mister Selfie (Overshare) rattled home to be a further neck back in third.
Sonny Daze was a $210,000 purchase for John Morrisey from the Hopetoun Farm draft from Book 2 of the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second winner from three to race for the Lonro mare But Perfect after the lightly raced Gold Coast winner Perfect Mission (The Mission), who has not started since finishing fourth behind Coolangatta in the 2022 Magic Millions 3yo Classic.
Purchased by Hopetoun Farm for $7,500 at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale, But Perfect is a three-quarter sister to multiple stakes-placed Eight Bills out of the Group III Mannerism Stakes winner Typhoon Billie (Rory’s Jester).
But Perfect has a weanling filly by Pierata and was covered by Spirit Of Boom last spring.
Sonny Daze is the fifth 2yo winner of the season for Waylon J Stud's new recruit Performer (Exceed And Excel)
