Two from Three for Deep Impact's City Of Lights

Mark Smith - Wednesday October 18

There was a little bit of joy in what has been a sad few days for John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds when the Deep Impact (JPN) mare City Of Lights made it two wins from three starts with a hard-fought success in the Star Turn @ Vinery Stud Hcp (1550m) at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday.

Advertisement

Ridden by Chad Schofield for Joe Pride, the half-sister Winx was all out in defeating the Kingman (GB) mare Princess Rayaa by a half-head with the previously undefeated 3-year-old Contributer (IRE) filly Harlow Mist a half-neck back in third.

City Of Lights made a winning debut in a Geelong maiden on June 4 when trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Joe Pride said City Of Lights is sure to get over further.

"I think she just wants ground. I am judging her off just two starts for the stable, but at both runs, she has been first to come off the bridle," Pride said.

City Of Lights makes it two from three (image ATC)

"She was very strong late, and I suggest she wants 2000m. She is a nice horse and showed her quality to get home despite what happened in the run.

"There is a lot of improvement, and she is exciting.

"She is having trouble accelerating off the mark and may be a candidate for blinkers."

What's she worth (image ATC)

 City Of Lights is the eighth foal and fourth winner for the dual stakes-winning Al Akbar mare Vegas Showgirl, who died at Segenhoe Stud last Sunday at the age of 21.

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.

Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman train Vegas Showgirl's 3-year-old Geelong maiden winner, Time Of My Life (I Am Invincible).

Vegas Showgirl's final foal, the unraced 2-year-old Pride Of Dubai filly Taleitaki, is with Michael Freedman.

Advertisment

Race Result - Star Turn @ Vinery Stud (Bm72) 1550m

Randwick-Kensington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:31.32
1
City Of Lights
- 4m Deep Impact (JPN) x Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: C Schofield 57.5
2
0.1
Princess Rayaa
- 4m Kingman (GB) x Rayaa (GB) (Virtual (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Tyler Schiller 57.5
3
0.3
Harlow Mist
- 3f Contributer (IRE) x Sila Jasak (NZ) (Cullen (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Reece Jones 59
4
0.4
Hinchinjive
- 5m Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Amy's Glen (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: R J Quinton Rdr: S Clipperton 58
5
0.8
Petersham
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Yesterjoy (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
6
3.1
Fleur Du Monde
- 4m Dundeel (NZ) x Fleur De L'orient (NZ) (Thunder Gulch (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 57.5
7
5.9
Zizette
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Zenith (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: L J Bridge Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55.5
8
10.0
Syzygy Stars
- 6m Vancouver (AUS) x Perpetuum (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R A Bailey Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winx Half-Sister Wins G3 Hawkesbury Crown
The Winx family has been on fire this autumn producing a flurry of new stakes-winners led by Group I winner Gringotts and Group II winners Enriched and Vegas Queen with a fourth emerging on Saturday when blue-blood mare City of Lights captured the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Consolation for Winx's Half-Sister City Of Lights
After missing a run when balloted out of last Saturday’s Group III Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill, City Of Lights earned a consolation of sorts in a benchmark 78 over 1800m at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
Winx's Half-Sister City Of Lights Makes Winning Debut
An Epsom Derby winner on Saturday and a Geelong maiden winner on Sunday, the late, great Deep Impact (JPN) can do it all.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.