Winx’s half-sister City Of Lights set for debut after false start

Posted by RS NewsWire at 7:51am on June 4th

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City Of Lights was an acceptor for a 1300m race at Cranbourne last Friday night, but was withdrawn on race morning owing to a Heavy track and co-trainer Sam Freedman said Sunday's 1418m race shaped as a better option where she is the current $3.70 favourite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

Grander ambitions for Walker's Sandown victor

Tolaga Bay is slated for a Black Type assignment after an impressive winning return at Sandown, continuing her undefeated streak.The Mark Walker-trained filly, by Alabama Express, triumphed in the Sportsbet Blackbook Handicap over 1300 metres on Wednesday.Potential targets for the filly include the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at...

Today

Sing Your Song on track for Flight Stakes after Warwick Farm win

Chris Waller has the Group 1 Flight Stakes on his radar for the well-bred filly Sing Your Song, following her stylish victory in a race that has proven to be a significant spring carnival launching pad.The trainer, usually hesitant to start horses from wide draws, explained that his decision to...

Today

Chilly Girl set to bring the heat to Furious Stakes rivals

A thrilling showdown is anticipated in the upcoming Furious Stakes, featuring Rosebud winner Chilly Girl and Silver Shadow Stakes champion Pembrey, as the early form for three-year-old fillies continues to solidify.Both fillies have made strong impressions this spring. Chilly Girl displayed grit to defeat Blue Door in the Rosebud (1100m),...

Today

Giga Kick ready to launch spring campaign in Moir Stakes

It has been almost four years since Giga Kick and Clayton Douglas were the celebrated duo of Australian racing.The pair captured The Everest at Randwick in October 2022, and in the following autumn, they triumphed in the All-Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000. During this period, Giga Kick was also awarded...

Today

Pride's leading spring contenders to debut at Randwick

Trainer Joe Pride is poised to introduce his stable's major spring contenders en masse at Randwick, with four Group 1 winners slated to race, prominently featuring the top weight-for-age performer Ceolwulf.The two-time King Charles III Stakes champion is scheduled to compete in Saturday's Chelmsford Stakes (1600m). Concurrently, Headley Grange and...

Today

Melbourne Cup 2026: 101 nominations received

The Victoria Racing Club has received 101 entries for the upcoming 166th Melbourne Cup, a 3200m race scheduled at Flemington on November 3.Despite a dip in overall nominations from previous years, international interest has grown, with 23 horses nominated from four nations: England, Ireland, Japan, and the USA.Last year, 2025,...

Yesterday

Natural Fling faces seasoned sprinters in Moir Stakes

The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable is prepared to gamble on a Group 1 contest against established sprinters when Natural Fling contests the Moir Stakes at Sandown.It's uncommon for a three-year-old, let alone a filly, to challenge hardened sprinters in a 1000-metre weight-for-age race.However, that's precisely the path Natural Fling...

Yesterday

David Vandyke confident Oregon Coast can leverage Pembrey's form

Trainer David Vandyke holds a positive outlook for Oregon Coast's chances at Ipswich on Wednesday, particularly given her performances against horses like Pembrey and Chilly Girl.While Pembrey and Chilly Girl are prominent contenders for the Group 2 Furious Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, Oregon Coast will be competing in the...

Yesterday

Chris Waller assesses Chelmsford Stakes contenders

Champion trainer Chris Waller is looking for better showings from Fangirl and Lindermann in Saturday's Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes over 1600 metres at Randwick.The pair finished well back in the Winx Stakes, behind their stablemate Autumn Glow, securing 10th and 9th placings respectively. While Waller was prepared to overlook their...

Aug 31st

Generosity poised for Group 1 Moir Stakes

There was a period earlier this year when Chris Waller considered letting go of the classy sprinting mare Generosity. However, this Saturday, she is set to kick off another racing campaign for the renowned trainer.The six-year-old mare will make her seasonal reappearance in the lucrative $750,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes,...

Aug 31st