City Of Lights was always going to be a valuable broodmare but the half-sister to Winx put the icing on the cake with an important black-type win in the Hawkesbury Crown.
As well as being related to a champion, City Of Lights is by former top Japanese stallion Deep Impact, who dominated sire charts in his homeland for a decade between 2012 and 2022.
Trainer Joe Pride is still pinching himself to have a horse of her quality in his yard and says not only is she royally bred, but her win in Saturday’s Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) proves she has the talent to back up her pedigree page.
“I’ve got to say, I have never had a horse with a pedigree like hers,” Pride said.
“It’s a pedigree made in heaven. A half-sister to Winx by one of the best stallions ever to stand on the planet.
“That doesn’t guarantee they’re going to be good horses but she is a good horse. It is nice to see her coming good as an older mare, which she is probably bred to do, but a massive win to add to her CV today.”
From a low draw, Chad Schofield was able to put City Of Lights ($6) in a stalking position and the mare powered to the line to narrowly edge out Tashi ($4.80) with Lady Laguna ($2.80 fav) two lengths away third.
It was the winner’s second appearance of the campaign after she finished runner-up in a benchmark race at Randwick last month, a hitout Pride said had proven crucial for the five-year-old, who is raced by Winx’s breeder John Camilleri.
“I’d said to John, I’d really like to give her a run before we get to Hawkesbury in case we get testing conditions and I think that run held her in really good stead for today,” Pride said.
“A big result. Job is not done yet. I’d love to take her to Queensland.”
Schofield has been closely involved with City Of Lights since she joined Pride’s stable in the spring of 2023 and said she had continued to improve with maturity.
“It was a really nice win. She’s a beautiful mare, a stunning horse to ride,” Schofield said.
“I did all the trials this preparation and I’ve won on her in previous preps and she’s just continued to get better.
“Today, with a good draw, we made the most of it and had the run of the race and she was sharp.”
Pride made it a stakes double two races later when Dragonstone ($8) responded to the reapplication of blinkers to narrowly deny barn mate In Flight ($6.50) in the Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m).
It was a brave effort from the winner who lumped topweight of 59.5kg and had to overcome a wide draw.
“The stablemate had her chance to get past him seemingly but he wouldn’t lay down and he had to give her six-and-a-half kilos so it was a fair effort,” Pride said.
“But that’s him. He is a courageous, seasoned old horse and they’re the benchmark for these younger horses on the way up to get past.”
