Sunshine In Paris Triumphs in G1 Champions Sprint

Mark Smith - Saturday November 9

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.

Sunshine In Paris down the middle (image Grant Courtney)

Scything through between Streten Angel and Baraqiel at the 100m, the 5-year-old daughter of Invader defeated the Zoustar mare Right To Party by a short-head with the same distance back to the very gallant Pride Of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina in third.

The Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes winner at Randwick in April, Sunshine In Paris advances her record to six wins, three seconds and a third from 13 starts with earnings of $4,762,025.

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Purchased by Champagne Bloodstock for $90,000 when offered Blue Sky Premium Consignment at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Sunshine In Paris made $3,9000,000 to the bid of James Harron, on behalf of John Camilleri,  from the Newgate Consignment through the same ring a year later.

“She was amazing. I was a little bit worried pre-race because she was parading quite quietly,” co-trainer Annabel Neasham said.

“We’ve never backed her up before and she’s had the trip, but she was phenomenal. Amazing ride by James.

“The plan was to try and be a bit closer because the last couple of runs she’, maybe due to the barriers, she’s just ended up too far back. But she’s just got such a strong finish. It was just waiting for that gap, but we had the right man on board.

Your Champions Sprint winner (image Grant Courtney)

“She’s such a special horse. I’m so grateful to John Camilleri. He purchased her when I was already training her, and there was no guarantee she would come back to me. So to put her back in our stable and give us the faith with her, I’m just glad we can repay him. And it’s amazing for (co-trainer) Rob (Archibald) as well, his first Group One winner.

“It’s just a massive team effort. We’ve got a big team but they’re all amazing. Everybody grafts hard. She’s not that straightforward, this filly. But everybody has made her who she is. It’s not just Rob and I, it’s the whole team. And this day’s been good to us.”

Segenhoe's Peter O'Brien celebrating the win of Sunshine In Pars (image Grant Courtney)

James McDonald was uncertain if he had won.

“I had the grey horse to my inside, and I would have been a certainty beaten if I didn’t get out. But I had the mare to do it and, geez, I’m rapt.

“Well, the pace quickened probably a furlong sooner than I wanted. And I elected not to go. At the 300m, I was cursing myself. I was saying, ‘you dumb bugger’.”

“I’m rapt. I’m so blessed to ride such highly talented horses. They get you out of trouble. And I’ve only just started, baby.”

$3,900,000 well spent

Bred by Aquis Sunshine In Paris is a three-quarter sister to the Group III Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Macroura (Snitzel), out of the Zabeel mare Zenaida, a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Vosne Romanee.

Zenaida sold for $1.4million and Macroura sold for $1.5million at the National Broodmare Sale. Both of them going to Yulong. Zenaida was in foal to Maurice (Jpn) and Macroura to Deep Field.

Zenaida has a yearling Maurice (JPN) colt and foaled an Alabama Express filly on September 19. Macroura has a yearling filly by Deep Field and was covered by Pierata last spring.

Invader stands at Aquis for $8,800. 

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Race Result - Darley Champions Sprint Gr1 1200m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.25
1
Sunshine In Paris
- 5m Invader (AUS) x Zenaida (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
2
0.2
Right To Party
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x De Groove (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 56.5
Zoustar
3
0.3
Bella Nipotina
- 7m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Bella Orfana (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
Pride Of Dubai
4
0.8
Stretan Angel
- 4m Harry Angel (IRE) x Sretan (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: L Nolen 56.5
5
1.2
Private Life
- 3c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Aliyana Tilde (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 53.5
6
2.2
Baraqiel
- 6g Snitzel (AUS) x Angel Of Mercy (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: Ben Allen 58.5
7
2.4
Giga Kick
- 5g Scissor Kick (AUS) x Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause (GB))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
8
3.4
Overpass
- 6g Vancouver (AUS) x Walkway (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 58.5
9
3.8
Estriella
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Madrigals (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: B Melham 56.5
10
4
Lady Laguna
- 5m Overshare (AUS) x Catalina De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
11
5.7
Bellatrix Star
- 3f Star Witness (AUS) x Alana's Party (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: M J Dee 51.5
12
9
I Am Unstoppable
- 4h I Am Invincible (AUS) x Satin Slipper (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Dylan Browne McMonagle 58.5
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