Sunshine Stars Graduates Stepping Out

Sunshine Stars Graduates Stepping Out

The first graduates of the inaugural Ladbrokes Sunshine Stars Sale in 2023 have been starting to appear on racetracks down the eastern seaboard over the past six weeks.

A catalogue of 138 yearlings was offered in the 2023 draft with 128 of those stepping into the ring on sale day.

Two weeks ago, Our Aunty Belma became the first graduate of the 2023 sale to face the starter, with the Anthony Frisby trained filly finishing fifth on debut.

The daughter of Well Said out of the mare Awesome Belmer was an $8,000 purchase last year and tonight will line up for her second start where she will clash with another Sunshine Stars graduate.

KerryAnn and Robbie Morris will trek across the Blue Mountains from their Menangle base with their filly Sugar Rush, as the daughter of Stay Hungry makes her race debut from barrier four.

From the first crop of Stay Hungry foals in Australia, the Somebeachsomewhere stallion has had three starters to date this season, already producing Louie Vee, an impressive 1.55.3 winner at Gloucester Park at his first start.

“Off the back of our second sale completed here three weeks ago, to see the graduates of the Sunshine Stars Sale starting to appear in trials and races is exciting,” The Creek’s Ken Rutherford said.

“The Nutrien Sale heat for 2024 two-year-olds is fast approaching and with the big money on offer through the entire season which will culminate in the Sunshine Stars Series, the numbers are extremely encouraging and highlight the quality and groundwork that the vendors put into their stock.”

12 months down the track from that first Sunshine Stars Sale and the percentage of horses that have been named sits at a healthy 55%, with 70 now known under a race name.

Along with tonight’s two starters at Bathurst, the first Queensland starter from the 2023 Sunshine Stars draft will also become the first two-year-old to race in the Sunshine State for the 2024 season when it steps out tonight at Redcliffe.

The Murray Thomas trained Whykikamoocow is a son of Changeover and was a $5,000 purchase last year, with the gelding engaged in race 10 tonight.

Complementing the three starters tonight, a further six have qualified and another 25 have been at the educating trials across three states.