Winx sibling ready to Light up 2025 Hawksbury Crown

City Of Lights carries one of the most exceptional pedigrees in racing, and Saturday’s Hawkesbury Crown offers a vital opportunity for her to earn stakes honours.

As a half-sister to Winx and a daughter of Japan’s legendary Deep Impact, her bloodlines are elite.

“She has got a pedigree that is almost too good to be true,” Pride said.

“Does it get any better? By Deep Impact and a half-sister to Winx, it’s ridiculous. You look at it and go, ‘that horse doesn’t belong in my stable’.”

Pride, despite his credentials, remains humble, and says he’s focused on giving City Of Lights the right opportunities to deliver on her potential.

She’s shown promise with four wins from a dozen starts and resumed this campaign with a strong runner-up finish at Randwick. Now at 1300m, she could go one better.

“She’s a horse that is hard to look at and not have in your mind that she is Winx’s sister. It’s something special,” Pride said.

“She is a good mare in her own right and if she can get the job done Saturday it will be a massive box ticked for her stud career as well.

“She should get a bit of a soft track which will help her and I have been very happy with her.

“It’s her best chance yet to get a stakes win or placing and that is so important.”

Pride will also saddle up a trio in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m): seasoned sprinter Dragonstone, improving mare In Flight, and first-up runner Testator Silens.

Dragonstone’s fitness is an advantage, Testator Silens usually builds into his campaigns, and In Flight is suited by the likely soft ground.

“One hundred per cent, that is key for her,” Pride said of In Flight.

“I really like this mare. I think she’s a little ripper.

“I’m convinced the best race she wins will be on a bog track somewhere so it might be Saturday.”