Sunshine In Paris ready to climb The Everest as she claims consecutive Group 2 Sheraco Stakes wins at Rosehill

Sunshine In Paris made a big spring statement with a brilliant first-up performance to claim successive Sheraco Stakes victories at Rosehill.

Sunshine In Paris makes it back-to-back wins in the Sheraco Stakes with an impressive first-up win at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Sunshine In Paris put her The Everest rivals on notice with a breathtaking return to racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Trainer Annabel Neasham, owner John Camilleri and jockey Tommy Berry were left as stunned as Sunshine In Paris’s beaten rivals in the Group 2 $300,000 Sheraco Stakes (1200m).

“I knew she was never going to be pick of the yard today,” Neasham said.

“So, to do that today first-up is amazing when she’s probably not quite as wound-up as I had her in the Sheraco 12 months ago because we needed a slot then, but we’ve got one this year.”

Camilleri also owns a slot in the $20m The TAB Everest, run at Royal Randwick on October 19, was in awe of the mare’s brilliant win.

“We honestly didn’t expect that,” Camilleri said.

“It was exciting to see her race so well.”

Berry warned the best is yet to come from Sunshine In Paris.

“I’m not sure if I am more excited about what she did today or what is to come from her,” the jockey said.

Sunshine In Paris ($3.80) conceded the leaders a huge start from the turn but finished powerfully to run down Mumbai Muse ($18) near the line to score by a short neck with favourite Joliestar ($1.80) nearly two lengths away third.

Belclare’s rider Rachel King reported to stewards her saddle slipped soon after the start and with the mare racing in blinkers, she got over-racing and opened up a six to eight length lead coming to the turn.

Inevitably, Belclare faded in the final 200m but Sunshine In Paris needed to run 32.78sec for her final 600m to reel in the leaders.

Joliestar was behind Sunshine In Paris to the turn and chased hard, sprinting her final 600m in 32.94sec but she never looked likely to challenge the winner.

“The race shape didn’t suit Joliestar,” said Charlie Duckworth, stable representative for trainer Chris Waller. “She’s run well but it was always going to be hard to win when they are running those fast times.”

Sunshine In Paris stopped the clock at 1min 9sec flat to win her second successive Sheraco Stakes, becoming only the third multiple winner after More Joyous (2010, 2012) and Catkins (2014-15).

☀️ 🇫🇷 Sunshine In Paris books her @tabcomau Everest spot in winning back-to-back Sheraco Stakes today at Rosehill with @TommyBerry21 on board for @ANeashamRacing! pic.twitter.com/Vs055MS1sP

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 14, 2024

Neasham, who trains in partnership with Rob Archibald, said Sunshine In Paris has been specifically prepared to peak for The Everest next month.

“We’ve managed to go really slowly with her this preparation,” Neasham said.

“She goes so well fresh so we thought we’d run her here then probably go straight to The Everest in five weeks.

“I’d like to go straight there because she does go so well fresh. That was the plan last year so we’ll see how she comes through.

“We’ve got a bit of time up our sleeve, she might have a trial in between.”

Neasham praised Berry’s tactics to ride the race to suit Sunshine In Paris and not concerning himself with the tearaway leader.

“I said to Tommy before the race we have our (Everest) slot so we just need a nice first-up run,” Neasham said.

“He rode her a treat although I was a bit worried during the race as the leader was really stringing them along.

“But to Tommy’s credit he didn’t panic, he let her bridle up around the corner and she was so tough late. She has such a strong finish on her.”

Berry described Sunshine In Paris’s win as exceptional given the mare has considerable improvement to come before The Everest.

“What she was able to do today gives me goosebumps,” Berry said.

“She is still a bit ‘hairy’ in the coat so she is only going to get better with the run.

"There's definitely a bit more to come"

Sunshine In Paris was a winner of the G2 Sheraco Stakes and will more than likely go straight to the @tabcomau Everest without another run!

Here's what @ANeashamRacing and @TommyBerry21 said after the race 👇 pic.twitter.com/wMwLqjxatE

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 14, 2024

“The team have done an amazing job with her to get her here ready to win after two trials and an exhibition gallop.

“John (Camilleri) is great, he lets Annabel do what she needs to do with this mare and I just the lucky recipient today.”

Berry said Sunshine In Paris was travelling so well coming into the straight he new favourite Joliestar could not give his mare a start and beat her.

“When she let down, I thought nothing could come from behind and beat me – and I know how good Joliestar is but I knew she couldn’t beat my mare,” Berry said.

“She was the meat in the sandwich today. She was in the middle, she was taking Joliestar into the race but 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 felt Mumbai Muse would be hard to beat as I’ve had a lot to do with her and I knew she would fight hard.

“But it was like Mumbai Muse had a target on her back – Sunshine In Paris zeroed in on her and mowed her down.”

Camilleri doesn’t have to announce his Everest runner until the week of the race but there are no prizes in guessing Sunshine In Paris will be lining up in the world’s richest turf race next week.

“I’ve got to thank my wife, Deb, because she urged me to buy the Everest slot,” Camilleri said.

“I hope to be at Randwick (on October 19) all going well because we planned to be at Randwick last year but Sunshine In Paris missed the raced with an injury.”

Originally published as Sunshine In Paris ready to climb The Everest as she claims consecutive Group 2 Sheraco Stakes wins at Rosehill