Tony McEvoy is considering tackling some of Australia’s best sprinters after Sunlight made a successful return from a short break at Caulfield.
A spiked temperature in Sydney in the lead-up to last month’s Golden Rose had the potential to curtail Sunlight’s spring campaign.
McEvoy persevered and the filly won Saturday’s Group Three Thoroughbred Club Stakes with the trainer now eyeing the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
His original intention was to head straight to the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 3.
“The 1200 metres down the straight at Flemington makes speed vulnerable I believe whereas 1200 metres at the Valley is a speed track and she is a speedy filly,” McEvoy said.
“I think with 51 kilos on her back that’s what I’d be leaning towards.
“The horses in that race will be running on a heavy track (in The Everest) up in Sydney today and I won the (Manikato) last year and I’d like to win it again.”
Ridden by Luke Currie, Sunlight was sent off the $2.20 favourite in accounting for Humma Humma ($10) by 1-1/4 lengths with Meryl ($4.80) the same margin away third.
McEvoy revealed a lesson learned from Colin Hayes in his days working with the Hall Of Fame trainer stuck in his mind.
“I took the Colin Hayes view on temperatures,” he said.
“One day of temperature is one week of easy and she only had a temp for one day.
“I remembered it, did it, and I made up my mind if she didn’t bounce I’d turn her out, but she bounced and here she is.
“She’s a high quality filly with a great constitution that loves to be trained and I love training her.”
