How Sunlight conquered the Millions

Considered a bright prospect when she arrived at the Gold Coast Turf Club on a scorching summer's morning on 13 January 2018, Sunlight would leave the track that afternoon with her status confirmed as a star of the Australian turf.

Sunlight (Zoustar x Solar Charged) was bred by Queensland's Fletcher family and sold to McEvoy Mitchell Racing, Aquis and Blue Sky Bloodstock for $300,000 at the 2017 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. 

An all-female syndicate was formed, with members of the Fletcher family retaining shares. 

Sunlight gave punters their first glimpse of what she was truly capable of when Tony McEvoy produced her at the Gold Coast Barrier Trials on 7 December 2017. 

She would return to the Gold Coast just before Christmas for her first race-day test since running third in the Maribynong Trial at Flemington. 

She would start a short-priced favourite ($1.50) and didn't disappoint her backers. 

Two weeks later the now equal Magic Millions-favourite returned to the Gold Coast, this time with a worthy challenger in the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott-trained Terminology. 

The Star Witness filly came to the Coast with plenty of raps on her despite running fourth in the Wyong Magic Millions Classic. 

However, Sunlight once more proved a class above. 

The scene was now set for an epic Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 13. 

Many pundits were predicting a two-horse race between Sunlight and the Tony Gollan-trained speed machine, Ef Troop, with the David Atkins-trained Jonker also attracting plenty of interest. 

The three battled for favouritism throughout the week, but only one would walk away the winner. 

As a result of winning, Sunlight's owners collected a $1.525 million pay day inclusive of a $325,000 All women's bonus! 

She would go on to finish a gallant third in the G1 Golden Slipper during the Autumn Carnival.

She returned for the spring and upstaged a hot field of colts in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes down the straight at Flemington.