Sunshine In Paris’s small stature didn’t stop her from standing tall in the Group 1 Surround Stakes, but it almost prevented winning trainer Annabel Neasham from spying her in the blanket finish.
In a thrilling four-way battle to the line, Sunshine In Paris ($11) dived through in the centre to deny Ruthless Dame ($12) by a short half-head, In Secret ($2.30 betr fav) another half-head away third and Zougotcha ($4.60) a similar margin back in fourth.
Neasham watched the race with Ruthless Dame’s co-trainer David Eustace and admitted neither of them was sure which horse had won.
“I was stood with my great mate Dave Eustace and I think he thought he’d got it,” Neasham said.
“She is so small you can’t see her. I’m speechless.”
Lining up for just her fifth start, Sunshine In Paris had put the writing on the wall when runner-up to In Secret in the Light Fingers Stakes, her first test in Group company.
Neasham was surprised to see her at double-figure odds and said the Surround had been a target race for some time.
“I’m not in shock because I was actually disappointed she didn’t win the Light Fingers, I thought she had the ability to be the best three-year-old filly around,” she said.
“But obviously coming here today, they’re such good fillies. Seeing them fight out the finish like that was unbelievable.”
Sunshine In Paris was ridden by Ryan Maloney, her win some consolation for the Queensland-based jockey after the earlier defeat of favourite Skirt The Law in the Sweet Embrace Stakes.
“I was licking my wounds after Skirt The Law,” Maloney said.
“But I was quite bullish about her prospects here because she didn’t see the winner until late the other day and she got going late, the last 50 metres.
“I was happy I had the two main ones (In Secret and Zougotcha) to follow and once she got that split she sprouted wings late.
“It’s just great to repay the favour, the opportunities I’ve been getting down here. Fifteen minutes before the race I was licking my wounds but now, happy days.”
Neasham wants to see how Sunshine In Paris comes through the run before committing to her next start but the Coolmore Classic (1500m) is a logical option.
“I wondered if the Coolmore might be a nice race for her over the 1500 at Rosehill but she doesn’t have to do much more, ever again,” Neasham said.
Hugh Bowman made the trip from Hong Kong to ride In Secret and said she was game in defeat.
“I think she has run up to her first-up performance. They are a good bunch of fillies and she narrowly missed today,” Bowman said.
