Winx’s half-sister City Of Lights set for debut after false start
half sist
After a false start last week, Winx's half-sister City Of Lights is set to make her debut this Sunday.
The daughter of Deep Impact and Vegas Showgirl is down to run in the 1418-metre three-year-old fillies maiden that is the fourth race on the Geelong card and is scheduled to run at 1:55PM AEST.
City Of Lights was an acceptor for a 1300m race at Cranbourne last Friday night, but was withdrawn on race morning owing to a Heavy track and co-trainer Sam Freedman said Sunday's 1418m race shaped as a better option where she is the current $3.70 favourite with Ladbrokes.
"Cranbourne was pretty bottomless (and) we weren't that keen to see her on a bottomless track at her first start," Freedman said.
"She's a filly with good talent, but she'd probably be a miler I would suggest."
City Of Lights will become the fourth to race from Vegas Showgirl, whose second foal was four-time Cox Plate winner and $26m earner Winx, a daughter of Street Cry.
Four other products of Vegas Showgirl did not race with Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes winner El Divino, a son of Snitzel, her best to date outside of Winx.
City Of Lights is the result of a union between Vegas Showgirl and Japanese legend Deep Impact in spring 2018 and Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, is not surprised she has taken until late in her three-year-old season to get to the races.
"She's just been a little bit immature and, by Deep Impact, she's obviously going to improve with a bit of age and some racing," Freedman said of the filly who was bred by her owner, John Camilleri.
"We haven't wanted to rush her and her owner's been happy to be patient. We wanted to make sure she's going really before we head to the races with that pedigree, but she's ready to go."
Ben Allen has the ride on City Of Lights at Geelong with the pair to jump from the inside alley in the capacity field of 14.
More Racing News
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...









