Outstanding sprinting mare Sunshine in Paris overcame traffic to score a brilliant win against the country’s best sprinters in Saturday’s A$3 million Gr1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington.
Luck had been against the daughter of Invader at her two most recent runs – the Everest and Russell Balding Stakes – when she was forced back from tricky gates and having to sustain long runs.
Sunshine In Paris (James McDonald) wins the Gr1 Champions Sprint. (Pic – The Image is Everything – Bronwen Healy Photography supplied by Magic Millions)
On Saturday down the famous Flemington straight six, the five-year-old was able to pick narrow runs between rivals to stake a determined late sprint to beat Right to Party and Bella Nipotina.
A Group One winner at three for earlier connections, Sunshine in Paris stayed in the stables of original trainer Annabel Neasham after being purchased by James Harron for John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
The mare’s price tag was a near sale topping A$3.9 million, but she has turned out an incredible investment for the Camilleri family – having already earned her purchase price back.
Neasham, who cheered home the mare from Flemington, prepares the outstanding sprinter with her partner Rob Archibald, a former crack polo player who was watching in from Sydney.
“She was amazing,” Neasham beamed after the race. “I was a little bit worried pre-race because she was parading quite quietly.”
“Obviously we’ve never backed her up before and she’s had the trip, but she was phenomenal.”
“Amazing ride by James McDonald. The plan was to try and be a bit closer because the last couple of runs she’s probably, maybe due to the barriers, she’s just ended up too far back. But she’s just got such a strong finish. It was just waiting for that gap, but we had the right man on board.”
“She’s such a special horse. I’m so grateful to John Camilleri. Obviously, he purchased her when I was already training her and there was no guarantee she was coming back to me.”
“So, to put her back in our stable and give us the faith with her, I’m just glad we can repay him. And it’s amazing for Rob as well, his first Group One winner.”
“I feel bad. I wish Rob was standing here. I did ask him if he wanted to do it. He said, no, I’ll do Sydney, but no, he was the first person I rang as soon as she crossed the line and I know what that’ll be feeling like for him.”
“It’s just a massive team effort. We’ve got a big team but they’re all amazing. She’s not that straight-forward, this filly. But everybody has made her who she is. It’s not just Rob and I, it’s the whole team. And this day’s been good to us.”
“I went home from the Everest disappointed that we didn’t win. I really felt like she could have won the Everest. That’s how much we think of her, but there’s not a lot between all these sprinters.”
“There’s a lot of good sprinters around at the moment, so for her to beat that field, obviously a very valuable race and to win on this day,” Neasham added.
Superstar jockey James McDonald, who partnered Sunshine in Paris in the Champions Sprint, said the mare’s performance was first class.
“I’m so thrilled for Annabel, and John the owner,” McDonald said moments after the win. “Obviously they took a bit of a risk backing her up from Sydney, but she’s a beautiful mare. Geez, she gave me a good ride.”
“I didn’t know who won. I had the grey horse to my inside, and I would have been a certainty beaten if I didn’t get out. But I had the mare to do it and, geez, I’m rapt.”
“I’m so blessed to ride such highly talented horses. They get you out of trouble.”
McDonald said he was extra pleased he was able to ride the first Group One winner for co-trainer Rob Archibald.
“Rob would be over the moon obviously. I’ve had a great association with Anabel and now Rob’s there. They’re a strong team, and their horses are firing.”
“This mare was turned out immaculate, and she was ready to win. I was cursing myself a furlong from home as I didn’t want to go when the race built up, but I can’t say what I was saying at the furlong, but anyway, I was lucky I got away with it.”
“I had the right mare to do it. She was a very willing partner, took the gap. I was probably lucky I didn’t really get too itchy and go for a gap I was anticipating to open. Anyway, it could have ended in tears, that’s for sure. I won’t take much credit for it.”
While Sunshine in Paris changed hands for A$3.9 million at the 2023 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, she was picked up for A$90,000 at the same sale a year earlier and she subsequently won the Group One Surround Stakes.
Bred by Aquis Farm, Sunshine in Paris is the pin up performer to date for Snitzel’s Group One winning juvenile Invader.
She is one of three winners, from three to race, for the top producing Zabeel mare Zenaida.
A winner over a mile and Sydney place-getter, Zenaida is also the dam of the Group Three winner Macroura.
Winner: Sunshine in Paris
- Breeding: Invader-Zenaida (Zabeel)
- Race: VRC Champions Sprint Gr1 (1200m)
- Sold for: A$3,900,000
- Sale: 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale
- Earnings: A$4,762,025
- Breeder: Aquis Farm
- Vendor: Newgate Consignment
- Owners: Fairway Thoroughbreds (Mgr: J Camilleri)
- Trainers: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald (Pakenham)
