Group One-winning Sunlight, is like a beam of light, capable of cutting through the competition. The 4YO mare is owned by Qatar Racing's H.H Sheikh Fahad, along with Loretta Fung, the wife of another Everest slot holder Aquis Farm and seven other women. Everest Diaries chats with David Redvers Qatar Racing's racing and bloodstock manager about the daughter of Gr.3 winning mare - Solar Charged.
Q: Could you please tell us about your Sunlight journey?
A: We bought her dam; Solar Charged at the Magic Millions breeding stock sale in partnership with Antony Thompson of Widden as she was exactly the type of mare that we all felt would help get Zoustar up and running. When we came to sell Sunlight as a yearling, we all liked her so much that retaining a leg with Tony McEvoy seemed the perfect outcome.
When we came to sell Sunlight as a yearling, we all liked her so much that retaining a leg with Tony McEvoy seemed the perfect outcome.
Q: In terms of Pedigree, Performance, and physical condition, could you tell us why Sunlight is best placed to win The Everest this year?
A: Her pedigree is all raw Australian speed and her performances have proven her to be top class. Tony will have her in prime condition with several prep races lined up en route to have her peaking for the Everest.
Q: What are the plans for Sunlight after The Everest (2019:?
A: We have seen that she thrives on racing. She is very powerful, but a bit stuffy so needs to get on the track. All these things are yet to be discussed, however, H.H. Sheikh Fahad and I would love to see her at Royal Ascot next year where she would be tough to beat.
I think she is capable of emulating Choisir and Blue Point by winning the King Stand and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at the same meeting, but what happens after that is all (whether she is to continue racing or be retired: open to discussion.
Q: How did you get involved in the industry? was not for horses, what would have been the next best career for you?
A: I grew up with ponies and then hunting and after 3 months planting trees in Australia aged 18, realized that any career I was to follow had to involve horses.
I spent the remaining months of my gap year working in polo and hunting yards before landing a job at Rockleer Stud near Bathurst, where I realized that my future lay with bloodstock. When I came home, I reversed my plans to join the army and went to work on stud farms in the UK to gain as much experience as possible before returning home to convert the family farm into the Tweenhills people know today.