Oisin Murphy guides Qatar Racing Limited's Sunstrike towards victory. PIC: JOHN HOY
In the burgundy and gold braids of Qatar Racing Limited, Sunstrike (IRE) (Dark Angel x Extricate) opened her scorecard at Kempton in the Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over 1,200 metres (6 furlongs) for two-year-olds. On Wednesday she was making just her second start for trainers John & Thady Gosden, and was partnered in the race by Qatar Racing Limited retained jockey Oisin Murphy.
Sunstrike was somewhat slow into stride out of the stalls and so Murphy settled her in towards the rear. Travelling smoothly around the bend on the all-weather track, she was asked to lengthen by her jockey with 500 metres to run. They stalked the leaders in their acceleration, still three lengths off. Switched to the centre in the final 100 metres, she showed a huge burst of speed to fly to the lead and just headed the Archie Watsontrained and Adam McNamararidden Blaast (GB) (Showcasing x Absolute Blast) by a nose in a photo finish.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained and Callum Shepherd-ridden WILD PLACE (IRE) (Mehmasx Turuqaat) was a half-length further behind in third. Sunstrike is by top juvenile and sprint sire Dark Angel, who incidentally also sired the winning of the Qatar Racing And Equestrian Club Ballyogan Stakes (Gr.3), Sonaiyla at The Curragh minutes later. He stands at Yeomanstown Stud in Ireland, who also bred t
