Consolation for Winx's Half-Sister City Of Lights

Mark Smith - Wednesday March 27

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.

Ridden by Chad Schofield for Joe Pride,  the half-sister to Winx travelled sweetly off the torrid pace set by Nash Rawiller on Special Swey. Eased out to make her run down the centre of the track, the 4-year-old daughter of Deep Impact (JPN) defeated Fay's Angels (Anacheeva) by a length with Ravello (Savabeel) back in third.

 A homebred for John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, City Of Lights advances her record to four wins from seven starts with earnings of $116,175.

“She is a real stayer in the making and the solidly run race made it a staying test,” Pride said.

“I don’t know if she can quicken off the mark, but she can keep going at a sustained gallop for 1600m, which will win her a lot of races. “This is an afterthought. We would have loved to be there on Saturday.

City Of Lights (image Racing Photos)

“She is still carrying plenty of weight and is on the way up. She has won four from seven, which is a good record for a stayer.

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“There are not a lot of options in terms of stakes races. I had in mind the JRA Plate at the end of the carnival over 2000m, but we will see how she pulls up. She is a horse with a bright future.”

A half-sister to 25-time Group 1 winner Winx, Group III Kindergarten Stakes winner El Divino and Riverbank Farm’s Snitzel stallion Boulder City, City Of Lights is one of five winners for Vegas Showgirl who died last October. She has the 3yo I Am Invincible filly,  Time Of My Life, who has won one of two starts for Petet Moody and Katherine Coleman.

The Pierro x Winx filly at Inglis Easter

The first foal of Winx, a Pierro filly, is catalogued for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

The final foal of Vegas Showgirl is the unraced 2-year-old Pride Of Dubai filly Wings Of Desire, who is in the stables of Michael Freedman.

Wings Of Desire had a barrier trial at Randwick on February 8 and promptly earned the ire of the stewards when fractious in the barrier.  

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Race Result - Tab (Bm78) 1800m

Randwick-Kensington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:49.54
1
City Of Lights
- 4m Deep Impact (JPN) x Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: C Schofield 56.5
2
1.2
Fay's Angels
- 4m Anacheeva (AUS) x Mo Vo (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Owen Rdr: Madeline Owen 51
3
1.5
Ravello
- 3g Savabeel (AUS) x Cover Charge (USA) (Take Charge Indy (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
NZB Karaka Book 1 $220,000
Seller: Cambridge Stud
Buyer: Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA)
4
4
Awesome Wonder
- 5m Galileo (IRE) x Nechita (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
5
5.3
Olympic Theatre
- 6g Mayson (GB) x Madame Vestris (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: J Ford 55.5
6
8.4
Our Maryanne
- 4m Frankel (GB) x This Time Bridie (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C E Conners Rdr: J R Collett 54.5
7
8.4
Loving Cilla
- 7m Reliable Man (GB) x Equivalence (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
8
8.9
Mad Deel
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Madeenaty (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
9
10.2
Invincible Legend
- 4g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Averau (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: L J Bridge Rdr: Amy Mc Lucas 55.5
10
12.8
Special Swey
- 4g Sweynesse (AUS) x Mia Mamma (NZ) (Per Incanto (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 61.5
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