Sunlight's Justify Colt Dawn Service Wins by Daylight at Hawkesbury

Mark Smith - Thursday August 1

After being the bit player in a Justify (USA) trifecta at Randwick-Kensington on July 17, the blue-blooded colt Dawn Service announced himself as a player in the spring with a 4-length romp in the Happy Horses' Birthday Maiden Hcp (1300m) at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

Dawn Service breaks his maiden (image Bradley Photographers)

Ridden by Tim Clark for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Dawn Service jumped a length in front, and that's the closest they came to him. Kicking clear on straightening, the son of Justify defeated the Pierata colt, Imposing Pier by four lengths, with the Hellbent filly Sugarfire the same distance back in third.

Owned in a partnership that includes the industry heavy hitters Coolmore, Yulong and Go Bloodstock, in whose colours he runs, Dawn Service was a $1,400,000 buy for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He is the first foal of the Champion 3YO Filly in Australia in 2018-19, Sunlight.

Sunlight won eleven of her 24 starts, highlighted by Group 1 wins in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, Newmarket Hcp, and MVRC William Reid Stakes. She banked over $6 million and put Zoustar on the map.

Advertisement

Aquis/McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Blue Sky Bloodstock purchased Sunlight as a yearling from the Widden Stud draft for $300,000. When offered by Widden Stud at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale, Sunlight was sold to Tom Magnier for $4,200,000.

Dawn Service a $1,400,000 Magic Millions yearling

Coolmore clawed back a further $1,400,000 when Paul Moroney Bloodstock / C Bruggeman had the final say on Sunlight's Wootton Bassett colt from the Coolmore draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

There are plenty of blue skies ahead as Sunlight has a weanling filly by Home Affairs and is back in foal to Justify (USA), who sadly will be missing from the Coolmore roster in the forthcoming breeding season.

Advertisment

Race Result - Happy Horses' Birthday Mdn Hcp 1300m

Hawkesbury Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:15.73
1
Dawn Service
- 3c Justify (USA) x Sunlight (AUS) (Zoustar (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 57
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $1,400,000
Seller: Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds
2
4
Imposing Pier
- 3c Pierata (AUS) x Breannon (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: C Schofield 56.5
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $120,000
Seller: Kia Ora Stud, Scone, NSW
Buyer: Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd
MM Gold Coast National Weanling Sale $110,000
Seller: Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW
Buyer: Stonehouse Thoroughbreds/Harrison Badger
3
8
Sugarfire
- 3f Hellbent (AUS) x Queen Of Kandy (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: A B Collett 55
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $130,000
Seller: Sledmere Stud, Scone
Buyer: First Light Racing / Annabel Neasham Racing
4
10.9
Zoomorphic
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Spright (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tom Sherry 58
5
12.5
Millie De Lune
- 3f Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Millsee (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: J Ford 55
6
13.6
Finding Elle
- 4m Shooting To Win (AUS) x Donostia Star (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: John Higgins Rdr: William Stanley 55
7
20.4
Rathunas
- 4g Capitalist (AUS) x Denpurr (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: Molly Bourke 56
8
20.9
Royal Defense
- 3c National Defense (GB) x Royal Duty (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: Kevin May Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 55.5
More Reading...
Kentucky Derby Triumph for Godolphin
Sheikh Mohammed’s revered Godolphin racing and breeding operation have won Derbies all over the world, but until today the Kentucky Derby had proven elusive, but a three year-old colt called Sovereignty changed all that at Churchill Downs before a crowd in excess of 150,000.
FBAA Mentorship Program - Successful Applicants Announced
The FBAA is excited to announce the selection of two mentees to participate in the second annual FBAA Mentorship Program commencing 19th May 2025.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 3
Here is the full list of 113 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Newgate to Offer Femminile at MM National
The month's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast received an incredible update when rising staying star Femminile won the Group One SA Derby (2500m) at Morphettville yesterday.
One to Watch – Sale
Reigning Australian Horse of the Year Pride of Jenni was not the only ‘Jenni’ making a trip to the winner’s circle this weekend.
Twin Hills Weanling Draft Showcases Daumier and Peltzer
Olly and Amber Tait’s Twin Hills Stud at Cootamundra is home to a couple of young fledgling sires in G1 Blue Diamond winner Daumier and Peltzer, who recently had his first winner and their draft for the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale starting on Monday has a good representation for both young stallions.
Inglis Australian Weanlings - Unraced Trial Report
With the Inglis Australian Weanling sale kicking off on Monday don’t forget to check the unraced trialler report for a bit more intel on what might be coming.
2.3million Justify Colt Wins G1 Newmarket 2000 Guineas for Godolphin
The weekend started well for Godolphin when their unbeaten filly Good Cheer won the Group I Kentucky Oaks on Friday and it got even better on Saturday when record priced  €2.3million Justify colt Ruling Court landed the Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas in the UK.
I Am Invincible Sprinter wins $1million Archer - Inglis Graduates Trifecta
A weekend that dreams are made of for Neil Jenkinson was today capped off with Easter yearling Lubrication (I Am Invincible) winning the $1m The Archer at Rockhampton.
Raining Black Type at Geisel Park
Geisel Park and its Group 1 racehorse and sire Manhattan Rain are poised to launch another winning wave in Group company at home and on the road with their fillies and mares in May.