SUNSET SOIREE moved to the brink of $200,000 in prizemoney after a slashing win in the opening race on Queensland Derby Day.
The mare built on her flashing lights run at Doomben two weeks prior to register a sixth career victory, with her last four coming at Eagle Farm.
After her customary tardy start, the daughter of Deep Field settled on the fence towards the rear of the field but Ange Jones produced a masterstroke to navigate a path to the outside.
Once she had clear air, SUNSET SOIREE switched on the afterburners and mowed down her rivals to score by a neck.
“I knew she was going to appreciate Eagle Farm and she ticked all the boxes coming back here,” said Tony Gollan.
“She was her usual self at the start, tardy out and into stride but that’s normal so we’re used to that with her. She was able go down to the rail and save an awful lot of ground mid-race, and the telling factor was before the corner when Ange was able to get her out and onto the back of Betcha The Crown.
“We were really keen to come down the centre of the track. I didn’t think we wanted to be on the inside but once she extradited herself from the fence, I knew there wasn’t going to be a better closer than her.”
Jones revealed she was concerned SUNSET SOIREE might find one better again, but paid tribute to the mare’s tenacity.
“She really deserved the win today,” she said.
“She’d been knocking on the door but she has a little habit of missing the kick, so it was good to see that it didn’t really cost her. She was able to pick runs and we were able to sneak up into a really good spot and when I was able to get off the fence coming to the home corner, I knew she was going to be hard to beat down the middle of the track.
“I thought for a second that I might have got there a touch too early, and the second horse just kept kicking and kicking. I got a little bit worried late, but she was tough.”
With $197,600 in the bank, the $100,000 purchase has more than paid her way for our partners.
Congratulations to Mr A G Stark, Mrs J M Twomey, Mr M J Davidson, Mr R M Harvey, Mr P S Eaton, Mr C Wood, Shandy Hills Racing, Philp Racing, Mr D Condon, Mr J D Rowe, Mr B Anasta, Ms K McGain, Mr L A Hamblion, Mr N W Weston, Mr P Carr, Mr T Choi, Ms S Kemister, Showtime and Yappy Daze.
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