By Ray Hickson
Class mare Sunshine In Paris will tell trainer Annabel Neasham and owner John Camilleri whether she’s deserving of her place in next month’s TAB Everest when she kicks off her spring at Rosehill on Saturday.
The five-year-old only has to please her trainers and owner in the Group 2 $300,000 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes (1200m) to be all but locked in for the $20 million sprint on October 19 as Camilleri is in possession of an Everest slot.
Trainer Annabel Neasham (Pic: Grant Guy)
It would be a case of history repeating if she is successful as Sunshine In Paris earned a TAB Everest berth last year with a dynamic Sheraco win first-up before injury robbed her of the chance to line up.
“We’re tying to keep the formula relatively similar to 12 months ago because it seemed to work for the Sheraco,’’ Neasham said.
“She had two trials and an exhibition gallop so I’m really happy with her and Tommy (Berry) said she feels great.
“We’ll get through this and then whether we give her another before the Everest or whether we go straight there we’ll see because she does go very well fresh.”
Neasham, who co-trains with Rob Archibald, was rapt with how Sunshine In Paris galloped between races at Randwick last weekend with stablemate Lady Laguna, who is missing the Sheraco with a small setback, with improvement to come.
It’ll be an intriguing clash in the Sheraco as Sunshine In Paris, $4 with TAB on Wednesday and $15 in the TAB Everest market, faces off with Joliestar who shares the top of the Everest betting with I Wish I Win.
The five-year-old boasts an imposing first-up record having won two of three with a close second in the Group 1 Galaxy in the autumn her only defeat.
“Sunshine In Paris is so proven first-up, she was brilliant this time last year,’’ Neasham said.
“It’s going to be a strong race, a lot of good horses going around, so we will get a guide on where we are at.
“I’m really happy with her. She’s still got a bit of a coat on her so she needs to clean up in the coat but the way she is moving and working and trialling I think she’s as good as ever.
“If not a bit better, off what we’ve seen at home.”
As Neasham mentioned, Sunshine In Paris had trialled twice prior to last week’s exhibition gallop and she’s seen nothing to suggest the mare can’t make a statement first-up.
She said it makes preparing for an Everest a lot easier, however, knowing a slot in the race is there for her.
“She’s going to need to be better to go on and hopefully win a race like the Everest so we’re just hoping to get her there,’’ she said.
“Last year she had a setback and it was disappointing but the pressure’s off now in that she’s got a spot if she’s ready for it and showing she’s up for it.
“We very much work backwards from that, it’s a starting point but she’s there to win as well.”
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting