A full sister to triple Group I winner and $6.5 million earner Sunlight, Sisstar was a newsmaker in her own right at Moonee Valley on Friday night when setting a new course record on her way to winning the final of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge over 955m.
Prepared by Sunlight’s co-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Sisstar was first up from a spell after winning a Magic Millions feature race at Ballarat in November and the Group III winner showed her class under a great ride from apprentice Matthew Cartwright.
He tracked the leaders from barrier one and although briefly held up for a run, was able to force his way clear to snatch a fast finishing half-length win in 54.45 seconds.
“
That’s just incredible, to win the last heat and get the record,” said an elated Tony McEvoy, who will bank a $55,000 cheque for the trainer of the fastest heat winner of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Series.
“That was really exciting, Matty Cartwright showed a lot of maturity, we’ll be using him again!”
A $600,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft for McEvoy Mitchell Racing/David Redvers Bstock, Sisstar runs for a syndicate that includes many of the same owners involved in Sunlight and has the overall record of five wins from 14 starts with prizemoney topping $466,000.
Bred by Widden Stud in partnership, Sisstar is a full sister to Sunlight and to this season’s stakes--placed 2YO Dio being one of five winners from Group III winner Solar Charged.
Solar Charged has no yearling for the sales this year, but produced a colt by Zoustar last spring and is back in foal to him again.
