Michael Freedman’s Madeira Sunrise under James McDonald won an action packed $160,000, Listed Darley Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday to give the I Am Invincible two-year-old filly black type on her first race start.
The field of six juveniles at the barriers was reduced to five after Mexico reared in the stalls and got a near fore over a side barrier. Jockey Brett Prebble was safely out through the back of the stalls, but the Capitalist colt was a late scratching.
Once underway it was Tawfig Star and Chad Schofield who led the field across the High Street side followed by Sicilian and Tim Clark and Madeira Sunrise and McDonald.
Entering the main straight Clark was quick to build the pressure on the leader going up alongside with Sicilian with McDonald following three wide with Madeira Sunrise. Tawfig Star caved in and it was left to Sicilian and Madeira Sunrise to decide the race.
Madeira Sunrise and McDonald had a head margin, racing on the outside of Sicilian, at the 200m and then the filly was able to extend well to have a 1/2L winning margin at the line. Sicilian (I Am Invincible) and Clark had 1L on Portorosa (No A Single Doubt) and Regan Bayliss who came late from the rear.
The time was 57.77 on the Good 4 rated track. Madeira Sunrise paid $3.40 on both fixed odds and the tote.
A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase for Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Yarraman Park Stud draft, Madeira Sunrise is the first foal of the stakes-placed Savabeel mare Indrabeel.