Super Saturday at Flemington has provided more memorable milestones for Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia members Julian Blaxland (Blue Sky Bloodstock) and Louis Le Metayer (Astute Bloodstock).

Blue Sky graduate Sunlight claimed the coveted G1 Newmarket Hcp (1200m) and Astute import Harlem made it back-to-back wins in the G1 Australian Cup (2000m).

Sunlight (3f Zoustar – Solar Charged by Charge Forward) was a $300,000 buy for Aquis Farm, McEvoy-Mitchell Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock from Widden Stud at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

She initially arrived in the elite ranks winning the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in November and went to another level in Australia’s premier sprint on Saturday.  “Wow…What a filly!” Blaxland tweeted.  “Sunlight wins the Newmarket beating the best.  She’s a different class.  Brilliantly prepared by Tony McEvoy.”

Sunlight led throughout to upstage one of the finest short-course fields ever assembled at Headquarters.  “She’s an incredible filly,” McEvoy said.  “She keeps stepping up to the plate and the further she gets into her prep, the better she gets.

“They were touting it to be one of the best-ever Newmarkets and she was so strong at the end of 1200m today.”

Sunlight has banked $3.83 million for an Aquis Farm syndicate managed by Loretta Fung and she holds Group 1 nominations for the T J Smith Stakes and Arrowfield 3yo Sprint at Randwick in April.

Astute Bloodstock also reached a new plateau at Flemington with defending champion Harlem (GB) winning the G1 Australian Cup.

Trainer David Hayes likened the winner to dual Melbourne Cup hero Think Big.  “He’s a good horse who can step up on the big days.  He’s been in better form this year and it’s just a huge thrill.  He showed incredible fight because he looked beaten twice but kept kicking back.”

Bred by Juddmonte Farms, Harlem cost 520,000gns (AUD 882,825) at the 2016 Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale.  “He was one of our first ever European imports and was a big purchase for us at the time,” Le Metayer recalled.  “But from the start, we have aimed for quality over quantity, and it’s really paying off.”

Harlem (7g Champs Elysees – Casual by Nayef) will now head to Sydney to take on Winx in her G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes farewell at Randwick.

The Australian Cup completed a coast-to-coast feature double for Le Metayer.  His Perth Magic Millions graduate Achernar Star (Gingerbread Man) won the LR Bunbury Stakes (1400m) on Wednesday.

Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) was formed in 1988 to maintain, improve and develop the standards, status and services of bloodstock agents throughout Australia.  Its members operate with the utmost integrity and professionalism and are bound by the strict Industry Code of Conduct.

The list of FBAA members can be viewed at:  www.bloodstockagents.com.au

SUNLIGHT