Lindsay Park’s bold Sunlight play

By Brad Bishop and Danny Matthews

JD Hayes liked what he saw from Bold Bastille in her Magic Millions preparatory trial in Sydney earlier this week, but he was even more buoyant after talking to Blake Shinn.

The star Melbourne hoop made the trip to Warwick Farm on Monday to partner the filly in the 900 metre trial and he spoke in excited tones when he rang JD Hayes for a post-workout debrief.

The speedy daughter of Brazen Beau, who has led in most of her nine starts, jumped well but took a sit behind Amazing Eagle and ambled alongside that colt around 150 metres from home before racing away to score by three lengths under light riding. 

"Blake Shinn rang after the trial and he was quite impressed with how tractable she was," JD Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Ben and Will, said.

"She had a bunny, she got into a good rhythm and, I think, just with age she's starting to mature and getting some versatility in her racing."

The trial was the three-year-old's first public appearance under the Yulong green and white colours after that operation paid $810,000 for the dual Listed winner in November.

She made a pit-stop in Sydney, along with stablemate Stoli Bolli, who are both bound for the Gold Coast on January 4.

There they will tackle the $3 million Sunlight, the inaugural edition of the new slot race that is part of the ever-expanding Magic Millions carnival.

The 1100 metre event is pulling together a slick field with this year's Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and Magic Millions specialist Arabian Summer headlining their rivals.

"It's very good prizemoney on offer and has attracted a quality field, Lady Of Camelot is there, so it's nothing to be sneezed at and we're going to have to be at our best," JD Hayes said. 

Meanwhile, having already qualified to run in the rich Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in a fortnight, Will Freedman see's Zoubaby's outing at Eagle Farm on Saturday as a chance to see if a further tweaking of tactics will allow the filly to stretch out even further.

The Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate over 1300 metres presents a final fling towards the $3 million feature over 1400 metres at the Gold Coast.

And, while there is comfort with there being no panic about qualification, the last start winner at Randwick on December 14 will need to be ridden even quieter than that start in readiness to see out the slightly longer distances.

Will Freedman is in a training pair with Richard Freedman. 

"She's trending in the right direction, but the 1300 metres will the real test there," Will Freedman said.

"We'll ride her a little more conservatively so that she can see it out. We're hoping that the Guineas may have dodged the higher level three-year-olds from spring and autumn.

"She may be a level behind the top ones, but it is falling nicely with her."

Will Freedman commented that while horses that jump well from the gates are often a gift, in this case the challenge is to rein the filly back to then take up a conservative pace and position.

The Freedmans took out the Vo Rogue Plate with Fashion Legend in 2022.

Will Freedman says that they are on a similar path with this daughter of hot sire Zoustar who was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale in 2023 for $300,000.

"I think people can be a little light on these spring three-year-olds running 1400 metres. I prefer to have that extra run under the belt," Will Freedman said. 

Zoubaby had two spring starts in Melbourne which delivered a second placing in the Listed Crockett Stakes over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley and a fifth placing behind Amelita in the Group 3 Red Roses over 1200 metres at Flemington.

"I think the travel definitely made her mature mentally," Will Freedman added.

"I don't think she loved going the opposite way at Moonee Valley and she got exposed a bit up the Flemington straight.

"In Queensland this time she's going to handle the travel and Brian Smith who looks after her up there said she's as good as gold."

Zoubaby is rated a $8.50 chance across markets for the Vo Rogue Plate with last start winner, the Bjorn Baker-trained Raikkonen, a firming favourite at $2.70.