Trainer Mitchell Beer will look to raise the bar with Sunrise after the New Zealand-bred filly blew her rivals off the track at Randwick on Saturday.
The Midway was the second start of a new preparation for the Charm Spirit filly, who resumed with a front-running romp by seven lengths over 1000m at Kembla Grange on March 22.
Sunrise was sent out as a $1.80 favourite on Saturday and delivered more of the same. She was driven straight to the lead by jockey Rachel King and dominated the race from the front. A powerful kick in the home straight carried her well clear of her seven opponents, going on to win by 2.75 lengths.
Sunrise has now had 14 starts for three wins, five placings and $142,068 in stakes.
“I must thank the ownership group,” Beer said. “Last preparation, we knew how fast she was and we knew how good she was, but I just told them that she wasn’t physically and mentally ready.
“When we got her, all she wanted to do in her trackwork was bolt. We had to bite the bullet and teach her how to settle so that she could do this. To win this race today is a terrific result.
“With the beach stable we’ve got at Kembla, she spends most of her time down there and she’ll be going back to the beach again tomorrow.
“I had her entered for a Listed race in Brisbane today and she drew gate 13. This looked like a better option for her. Now that she’s won this race, we might take her to Scone next month and give her a crack while she’s still three. We’ll see whether she’s up to that black-type level.”
Sunrise was bred by Windsor Park Stud and is by Charm Spirit out of the Dawn Approach mare Daily At Dawn. Windsor Park offered Sunrise during Book 2 of Karaka 2023, where she was a $30,000 purchase by TFI and John Bary.
Sunrise began her career with six starts in New Zealand as a two-year-old last season, winning over 1000m at Tauherenikau and recording second placings at Trentham behind Savaglee and Sergeant Major. She also finished eighth in both the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
Beer bought Sunrise for $45,000 from the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast last May.
“Big thanks to Mick Gannon, who does our data, and our bloodstock agent Steph (Grentell),” Beer said.
“They found her in the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale and we got her for $45,000. I rang the boys from JJJ Racing and they were very keen to get involved. We love these tried horses.”
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