$3.9million Purchase Wins G2 Sheraco Stakes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday September 9

Talented Invader mare Sunshine in Paris closed out her three year-old season with a win in the Group I ATC Surround Stakes and was then sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for a whopping $3.9million to James Harron Bloodstock.

Sunshine in Paris stakes an Everest claim - image Steve Hart

Now sporting the colours of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, Sunshine in Paris remained with her original trainer Annabel Neasham after the sale and she had the mare fit and ready to fire first up.

With two trials under her belt, Sunshine in Paris travelled sweetly back in the field for Ryan Maloney and let down with a terrific turn of foot to surge past the leaders and win the Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes (1200m) by a length and a half over Group I Coolmore Classic winner Espiona, who was also sensational in her spring return.

"I was quite nervous before. She was obviously a big price tag at the mares' sale so a bit of pressure racing her on and trying to get more Group Ones on the board for her," Neasham said after the race.

"She never used to be that straightforward but she's very trainable now and we've had a really smooth preparation into this. 

"I'm delighted as well for Ryan Maloney, who has given up the top dog job in Queensland to come down here. She was probably the drawcard for him, and he's going to have a bit of fun on her over the next few starts."

Sunshine in Paris - Everest horse?

Sunshine in Paris ran a race record time of 1.08.80 seconds in the Sheraco, so a tilt at the $20million Everest is obviously a lot more than a pipedream.

Advertisement

"We're happy to take a spot (Everest slot)," Neasham said.

"I think she's good enough, she's shown that today. 

"She was first-up and we had her ready to go, she's the sort of filly that goes quite well fresh so she could just keep bobbling along to The Everest in the middle of October."

Sunshine in Paris was a showstopper at the Magic Millions National Broodamre Sale.

Sunshine in Paris sold for $3.9million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and at the same sale her dam Zenaida sold for $1.4million and her older three-quarter sister Macroura sold for $1.5million, both of them going to Yulong. Zenaida was in foal to Maurice (Jpn) and Macroura to Deep Field.

Sunshine in Paris was bred by Aquis and sold initially as an unraced two year-old filly in the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2022 for $90,000 and has the overall record of four wins and two placings from six starts with prizemoney just shy of $700,000.

Sunshine in Paris is the best performer to date for her young sire Invader, the Group I winning son of Snitzel stands at Aquis in Queensland at a fee of $11,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes Gr2 1200m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 1:08.80
1
Sunshine In Paris
- 4m Invader (AUS) x Zenaida (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Ryan Maloney 58
2
1.0
Espiona
- 5m Extreme Choice (AUS) x Dahooil (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 58
3
2.0
Zapateo
- 5m Brazen Beau (AUS) x Jerezana (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56
4
2.1
Zougotcha
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Fast Talker (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 58
5
2.2
Atishu
- 6m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 58
6
2.3
I Am Me
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Mefnooda (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56
7
2.4
Queen Of The Ball
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Miss Debutante (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Rachel King 55.5
8
5.7
Cinderella Days
- 4m Astern (AUS) x Ofcourseican (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 54
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 5
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sunshine in Paris Cracks $6million with Doomben 10,000 Victory
This time last year Bella Nipotina won the $1.5million Group I BRC Doomben 10,000 (1200m) before going on to claim victory in The Everest and it will be no surprise to see this year’s winner Sunshine in Paris also attempt the same feat.
Sunshine In Paris Triumphs in G1 Champions Sprint
After having little luck behind Bella Nipatina in The Everest and Russel Balding Stakes, luck seemed to have deserted Sunshine In Paris again in Saturday’s $3,000,000 Group 1 Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington before James McDonald weaved his magic.
No Everest for Sunshine in Paris - Retired to Stud
Disappointing news from Annabel and Rob Archibald on Tuesday with an announcement that the stable’s star sprinter Sunshine in Paris has sustained an injury in trackwork and will be  retired.
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Everest Next for $3.9million Mare Sunshine in Paris
A brilliant winner of the Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes (1200m) last year, talented Invader mare Sunshine in Paris was back at Rosehill again on Saturday and produced an explosive finish to take out the race for the second year in a row earning her slot for The Everest.
Aga Khan Homebred 3YO Colt - 2025 Arc de Triomphe Winner
The Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) was run overnight at Longchamp and one of the world’s great races produced a thriller with blueblood €1.85 millionsale-topping Frankel filly Minnie Hauk going down by a head to the Aga Khan homebred Sea the Stars colt Daryz.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).