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| Staff Writer |
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Sunshine In Paris can take a significant step towards another start in The Everest if she wins the US$1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
The outstanding mare's owner, John Camilleri, revealed a decision would be made on whether to extend her race career for another season after she contested the Gr.1 sprint.
One of the nation's elite sprinters, Sunshine In Paris is a rising 6YO mare but has only had 16 starts, winning six races – including two at Gr.1 level – for more than US$5 million prizemoney.
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Sunshine In Paris is already an invaluable broodmare, but she is racing as well as ever which makes the decision on her future such a vexed question for connections.
"We will decide after the Doomben 10,000,'' said Camilleri, whose Fairway Thoroughbreds owns an Everest slot.
"But the feeling from Annabel and Rob is the mare is lightly-raced and she is going really well.
"At this stage, we would like to have another crack at The Everest so we are leaning towards going for another year.''
Sunshine In Paris, who ran a close fifth in The Everest last spring, is pressing for favouritism at US$4.50 behind Overpass at US$3.50 for Saturday's contest.
Champion jockey James McDonald is reuniting with Sunshine In Paris in the Doomben 10,000 and will be keen to maintain his perfect race record on the mare after they combined to win the Gr.1 Champions Sprint at Flemington last spring.
Trainer Rob Archibald said Sunshine In Paris had freshened up well since her unlucky third to Jimmysstar in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes a month ago.
"Sunshine In Paris is great,'' Archibald enthused. "James galloped her last week and was very happy with the mare.''