By Alan Carasso
The Tony McEvoy-trained Sunlight (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) is now the $4.50 (7-2) joint-second favourite for next Saturday's A$2-million Magic Millions 2YO Classic following a barnstorming 4 1/2-length victory in an 1100-metre handicap Saturday. It was her second straight overwhelming victory at the Gold Coast.
An A$300,000 graduate of last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast sale, Sunlight debuted with a solid third in the Marybyrnong Trial S. (LR) up the Flemington straight Oct. 7 and was crushed into $1.50 (1-2) for this on the heels of an all-the-way success in a 900m test at the Gold Coast Dec. 23.
McEvoy promised after that effort that Sunlight would need one more run ahead of the 2YO Classic, and the bay made light work of the field, leading soon after the start and widening away in the final furlong and a half (video). Sunlight covered the distance in 1:02.48 over a 'good 4' track in the same race used by Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) en route to victory in the 2YO Classic 12 months ago.
“It was an easy watch and she's a high-class filly,” McEvoy said. “That will bring her on now for next week.”
McEvoy explained the rationale for the reasoably quick back-up.
“It's a hard race to win for southerners, that's why I gave her two starts at the Gold Coast,” he said. “By race time I wanted her to think she was a local.”
Sunlight shares second favouritism with Ef Troop (Aus) (Spirit of Boom {Aus}), with the undefeated Jonker (Aus) (Spirit of Boom {Aus}) remaining the $4 (3-1) choice.
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