Sun Gift salutes at Cranbourne

[Wandering Eyes]

The Waikato Stud colours were to the fore at Cranbourne on Saturday when their talented homebred mare Sun Gift (NZ) (Savabeel) scored a last-gasp win in the A$130,000 Gatorade Handicap (2025m).

The Benchmark 74 handicap was the fourth win of a 20-race career for Sun Gift, who has also finished second on seven occasions and has earned A$180,905.

The Danny O’Brien-trained Sun Gift was second-up at Cranbourne on Saturday, having finished strongly for second over 1600m in her resuming run at Caulfield Heath on December 3. As a previous winner over distances ranging up to 2400m, the step up to a middle-distance on Saturday was expected to suit, and so it proved.

Jockey Craig Williams initially settled Sun Gift in sixth along the rail, but when Bon Fete (Hellbent) pushed forward to inject some speed into the race at around the 800m mark, Sun Gift was left flat-footed and drifted back to second-last. When the field bunched up approaching the home turn, Sun Gift was boxed in on the inside and desperate for room.

Williams found clear air with 200m to run and angled Sun Gift to the outside of the favourite Suntora (Toronado), who quickly strode to the lead and had all of her momentum up. Sun Gift had to quicken sharply and did exactly that, drawing up alongside Suntora and thrusting her head in front right on the finish line.

“When Bon Fete faded entering the straight, it looked like I might be in a complete wedge,” Williams said. “I was able to come out and follow the favourite through, and my horse did a really good job to pick up and get her head in front at the line. She’s only second-up, so she’s in for a lovely preparation for her trainer Danny O’Brien and also for the Chitticks at Waikato Stud, who are coming into the sales season in New Zealand.

“She had to have that change of gears in the straight, and that’s what she possessed. By the time she got out, she had to really lengthen and remember that the favourite wasn’t going slowly either – she was improving as well.

“She got her head in front at the right time, and she was really strong through the line.

“I was pleased with her first-up run at Caulfield Heath, and then Danny’s given her plenty of time and found today’s race for her. Having only 54kg on her back helped, and she gave me a great ride and got the win.”

Sun Gift is by Savabeel out of the Pour Moi mare Sunniva (NZ), an unraced half-sister to Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel). Sunniva is also a three-quarter-sister to the Group Two winner and sire Guillotine, while half-sister Cold Shoulder (NZ) is the dam of Group One winner On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa).

Sunniva is the dam of three winners from three foals to race. Her first foal Gravity (Shamexpress) was a winner, while Sun Gift’s younger full-brother Morthan Efficent (NZ) (Savabeel) has scored two wins in a 12-start career in Victoria. Sunniva produced another Savabeel colt in 2022. She was served by the champion stallion’s son Noverre this season.

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