A brilliant winner of the Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes (1200m) last year, talented Invader mare Sunshine in Paris was back at Rosehill again on Saturday and produced an explosive finish to take out the race for the second year in a row earning her slot for The Everest.
The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained mare was not happy on the heavy tracks at the end of last autumn, but was right back to her best today.
She hit the line hard for Tommy Berry after tearaway leader Belclare set a hectic pace in front, unwinding a big finish to catch speedy Zoustar mare Mumbai Muse to win by a long head with race favourite Joliestar in third place after settling a long way back.
"I'm not sure if I'm smiling about today or what's to come with her," said Tommy Berry.
"You saw in the yard, she has just got so much improvement when it comes to her coat.
"I couldn't hide my excitement after I galloped her last Saturday (between races at Randwick). She just put in one of those bits of work where you get goosebumps.
"She was the meat in the sandwich today. She was in the middle, she was taking Joliestar into the race and when I first let down, I thought, well she can't beat me because they don't go any quicker than what I'm going. I just had to pick up Mumbai Muse, who I know very well and who is very tough."
Sunshine in Paris closed out her three year-old season with a win in the Group I ATC Surround Stakes and was then sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for a whopping $3.9million to James Harron Bloodstock and now runs in the colours of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds.
They missed the chance to recoup their investment in the Everest last year, when she was withdrawn from the race due to injury, but this year may be a different story.
“She's probably not quite as wound-up as I had her in the Sheraco twelve months ago because we needed a slot then, but we've got one this year," Annabel Neasham said.
"We've managed to go really slowly with her this preparation.
"She goes so well fresh, so we thought we'd run her here then probably go straight to the Everest in five weeks. That was a pretty good performance."
Sunshine In Paris is likely to have a barrier trial before The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.
Sunshine in Paris sold for $3.9million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and at the same sale her dam Zenaida sold for $1.4million and her older three-quarter sister Macroura sold for $1.5million, both of them going to Yulong. Zenaida was in foal to Maurice (Jpn) and Macroura to Deep Field.
Zenaida produced a colt by Maurice last spring and is in foal to Alabama Express, while Macroura had a filly by Deep Field, but then missed to Pierata.
Sunshine in Paris was bred by Aquis and sold initially as an unraced two year-old filly in the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2022 for $90,000 and has the overall record of five wins and three placings from 10 starts with prizemoney topping $1.1million.
Sunshine in Paris is the best performer to date for her young sire Invader, the Group I winning son of Snitzel stands at Aquis in Queensland at a fee of $8,800.
