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
2
4
Imposing Pier
- 3c Pierata (AUS) x Breannon (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: C Schofield 56.5
3
8
Sugarfire
- 3f Hellbent (AUS) x Queen Of Kandy (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: A B Collett 55
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...
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.