There was a little bit of joy in what has been a sad few days for John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds when the Deep Impact (JPN) mare City Of Lights made it two wins from three starts with a hard-fought success in the Star Turn @ Vinery Stud Hcp (1550m) at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday.
Ridden by Chad Schofield for Joe Pride, the half-sister Winx was all out in defeating the Kingman (GB) mare Princess Rayaa by a half-head with the previously undefeated 3-year-old Contributer (IRE) filly Harlow Mist a half-neck back in third.
City Of Lights made a winning debut in a Geelong maiden on June 4 when trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Joe Pride said City Of Lights is sure to get over further.
"I think she just wants ground. I am judging her off just two starts for the stable, but at both runs, she has been first to come off the bridle," Pride said.
"She was very strong late, and I suggest she wants 2000m. She is a nice horse and showed her quality to get home despite what happened in the run.
"There is a lot of improvement, and she is exciting.
"She is having trouble accelerating off the mark and may be a candidate for blinkers."
City Of Lights is the eighth foal and fourth winner for the dual stakes-winning Al Akbar mare Vegas Showgirl, who died at Segenhoe Stud last Sunday at the age of 21.
Purchased by Colm Santry, on behalf of John Camilleri, for $455,000 at the 2008 National Broodmare Sale, Vegas Shogirl is the dam of 25-time Group 1 winner and $26,451,175 earner Winx (Street Cry), Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes winner El Divino (Snitzel), Pakenham maiden winner Convent Garden (Exceed And Excel), and Riverbank Farm's unraced Snitzel stallion Boulder City.
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman train Vegas Showgirl's 3-year-old Geelong maiden winner, Time Of My Life (I Am Invincible).
Vegas Showgirl's final foal, the unraced 2-year-old Pride Of Dubai filly Taleitaki, is with Michael Freedman.
