Everest-winning trainer Joe Pride has declared Winx’s little sister City Of Lights as “exciting” after she overcame a buffeting to score a timely win just three days after the death of her dame Vegas Showgirl.
Vegas Showgirl, who produced 10 named foals including Group 3 winner El Divino along with $26 million earner Winx, died peacefully at Segenhoe Stud on Sunday, aged 21.
City Of Lights is among three of her progeny still racing and she looks to have a future after making it two wins from three starts in the Star Turn @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1550m) at the Randwick-Kensington track on Wednesday.
Starting at $2.70 with bookmakers, the daughter of Deep Field finished fifth at her debut for Pride over 1250m earlier this month and appreciated the extra ground to get up by a half-head over Princess Rayaa ($7) with Harlow Mist ($13) another half-neck away third.
It wasn’t smooth sailing with City Of Lights bumped sideways at the top of the straight before balancing back up again under Chad Schofield and hitting the line with intent.
“I think she just wants ground,” Pride said.
“Both of her runs she has been the first horse to come off the bridle and she’s been very strong again late and I’d suggest even with the interference in the straight, she just wants 2000 metres.
“But she is a really nice horse ad she showed her quality to get home then despite what happened in the run.
“I know it was a bit of a blanket finish across the track, but this mare has got a lot of improvement in her and she’s exciting.”
Beautifully bred Tulloch Lodge mare Petersham, a grand-daughter of Tuesday Joy and great grand-daughter of renowned broodmare Joie Denise, was backed in to start a $2.40 favourite but appeared to get spat out the back early before charging home to finish fifth and just three-quarters of a length from the winner.
Schofield said he regarded the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained favourite as City Of Light’s only danger and made the most of her being shuffled back.
“I thought it was probably a two-horse race between myself and Gai’s horse, when it jumped slow I took that advantage and put her (City Of Lights) with the run of the race in a one-out, one-back position,” Schofield said.
“I got her working through her gears and then that horse that ran second barged its way out and interfered with me a little bit.
“I had to rebalance her, but to her credit she really knuckled down under riding and she was really strong to the line.”
