Sunlight can shade Autumn Sun for three-year-old crown

Outstanding filly Sunlight could challenge retired star The Autumn Sun for three-year-old of the year if she can win Saturday’s Robert Sangster Classic at Morphettville and take her haul to four group 1 victories for the season.

Winx will, of course, again be horse of the year, but the two three-year-olds have been the standouts, along with Santa Ana Lane, away from her.

The Autumn Sun won five group 1s against his own age, including the Golden Rose, the Caulfield Guineas and Randwick Guineas, which are the top three-year-old races in the country.

Sunlight beat the colts in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby day in Melbourne, added a handicap win in the Newmarket Handicap and then beat the older horses at weight-for-age in the William Reid Stakes.

She was third in the TJ Smith against the best sprinters in the land, and a win in the fillies and mares group 1 would give her a compelling case for the three-year-old of the year.

With Aquis Farm in the ownership of Sunlight, she is likely to take their slot in The Everest later in the year, and Tony McEvoy is also considering running her in the Golden Eagle.