Sunshine In Paris passes Everest audition
The newly formed training partnership of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald look set to shoot for glory in The Everest (1200m) with quality mare Sunshine In Paris (5 m Invader – Zenaida by Zabeel) after she successfully defended her crown in Saturday’s Sheraco Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Rosehill.
Claiming the scalp of the Chris Waller-trained Joliestar (Zoustar), who had been equal favourite for the $20 million showpiece heading into Saturday, Sunshine In Paris relished the strong tempo set by former New Zealander Belclare (Per Incanto), ripping home to overpower Mumbai Muse (Zoustar) by 0.4 lengths.
Joliestar was not able to keep tabs on the winner and eventually finished another 1.6 lengths away third.
Sunshine In Paris claimed the Sheraco 12 months ago and was then set to line up in The Everest, although a setback meant she never got to her target.
This time around, with the mare’s owner John Camilleri an Everest slot holder, trainer Annabel Neasham has been able to take her time, knowing her spot in the October sprint is sewn up.
“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,” 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 goes back to back in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes, what a mare ☀️🇫🇷
Bring on the Everest 💪🏼 https://t.co/EGFrGZvVii
— Annabel Neasham Racing (@ANeashamRacing) September 14, 2024
Winning rider Tommy Berry was equally enamoured with Sunshine In Paris’ performance on Saturday.
“I’m not sure if I’m smiling about today or what’s to come with her,” winning rider Tommy Berry said. “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.”
Neasham will look to trial Sunshine In Paris before The Everest, which will be run at Randwick on October 19.
Joliestar has drifted slightly in Everest betting to $9 with Sunshine In Paris firming form $15 into $8 following her Rosehill win.
McEvoy looks at the positives with Joliestar
Meanwhile, jockey Kerrin McEvoy wasn’t disappointed with Joliestar’s performance in the Sheraco Stakes, believing the race set-up went against her. The Cambridge Stud-raced and Chris Waller-trained mare went into Saturday’s Group 2 off the back of an impressive win in the Show County Quality (Gr 3, 1200m) on August 24. “I was pleased with her run still. It was a bit of a funny race,” McEvoy said. “We had to just come back behind Sunshine In Paris to get some cover, and then after a furlong, they went at a solid pace. Just after that devastating win the other day, she popped out to make headway all the way up the running but she didn’t sort of dash like she did the other day.”