A week out from the G1 Golden Slipper, the world's richest 2-year-old race, the top two betting choices were both on display over course and distance at Rosehill on Saturday and each came away with another win under its girth. First up was the Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and Slipper favourite Sunlight (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), who ran her record to a perfect five with a win in the G3 Magic Night S. for trainer Tony McEvoy. Jumping on top, the $1.35 favourite was hassled early by Setsuna (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), but drew clear to best Godolphin's Cristobal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) by 1 1/4 lengths under mostly hand urging (video). Sunlight now goes into the Slipper off the same week backup that she used into the Magic Millions.
“She was good today,” jockey Luke Currie told Racing NSW. “She was really quick early. Even a little bit keen so hopefully that run takes the edge off her for next week. She did need it because she was getting tired late. On that back up last time in the Magic Millions, she was happy to come back off that leader when it went with her.”
“She seems to thrive with racing,” the rider added. “Tony [McEvoy] got the key to her early and worked her out pretty quick. She's been up here for a while now. She put on a bit of weight after the Magic Millions. She's a bit like her jockey in the fact she can put weight on pretty quick. This run will tighten her up for next week.”
The final time of 1:10.74 was slightly slower than the 1:10.22 put up by G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Written By (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) in the G3 Pago Pago S. a race later. Like Sunlight, Written By was also dispatched favourite ($1.70) and went gate to wire. Written By had to work to see off Sandbar (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), but he did so by a neck (video). Jockey Jordan Childs noted it was Written By's first time racing in Sydney, and thus his first time racing clockwise.
“He is a real athlete of a horse,” Childs told Racing NSW. “He jumps out of the barriers well. He puts himself in the race. He perhaps struggled a little bit going the opposite way but it should put him in good stead for next week.”
While Sunlight will try to emulate the Magic Millions/Golden Slipper double of Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) two years ago, Written By looks to become the first winner of the Blue Diamond/Slipper double since Sepoy (Aus) (Elusive Quality) in 2012.
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