Anthony Cummings’ long time faith in Shadows in the Sun was realised in the best possible fashion today when he scored a brilliant all the way win in the Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.
Cummings, born and bred in Adelaide, was delighted that one of the stable’s unsung stars was able to win at racing’s elite level.
In winning his third stakes race for the day for Ben Melham, Shadows in the Sun led throughout and despite the efforts of rivals outstayed the field in the dominant performance.
“I sent him to Adelaide with a good degree of confidence,” Cummings noted. “The key was getting him back on top of the ground.”
“His form in Sydney, when you take out those runs on badly rain affected tracks, was pretty good and I gave him a good chance today.”
“Ben rode him really well and after getting to the front he seemed to me to be able to pinch a couple of soft sectionals mid race and then he was strong in the straight,” Cummings added.
Cummings said he wouldn’t be making a decision on the immediate future of Shadows in the Sun for a while.
“I’ll wait and get him back to Sydney and see how he is. I’ll keep an eye on the weather because there is a chance he could head to Brisbane for the (Queensland) Derby.”
“Otherwise we could tip him out for a rest,” he added.
Cummings took a shine to Shadows in the Sun at the 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and went to $280,000 to secure him from the draft of Kitchwin Hills.
“He was a really cracking individual at the sales and we bought him thinking he was a Magic Millions Classic type,” Cummings noted.
“He showed plenty of ability at two and things just didn’t quite go to plan much for him early – but he’s really developed into a lovely horse.”
Cummings said Shadows in the Sun was such a good looking yearling that he didn’t have any trouble selling him to clients – thankfully his wife kept a share.
“Lets just say they’re a very happy bunch of owners now,” he summed up.
Shadows in the Sun ($21) cruised home to beat Echoes in Heaven ($6.50) by three parts of a length, while local filly Lalla Rookh ($31) ran third just ahead of Kittens ($6.50).
The favourite Right of Refusal ($3.30), a last start stakes winner of the VRC St Leger, beat just two runners home, while second pick Backgammon ($4.80) was fifth – a tick over two lengths from the winner.
The second Group One winner for Danehill’s group winning son Dane Shadow, Shadows in the Sun is one of two stakes winners produced by his dam Best Out West.
A lightly raced daughter of Best Western, Best Out West is also the dam of Fernhill Handicap winner Stone Canyon as well as Sydney winner Shadow Miss.
Further back it is the same family as stakes winners Distancia, Eureka Jewel, Spurred On, Live Theatre, Sermon and Manawapoi.
Winner: Shadows in the Sun (Dane Shadow-Best Out West)
Race: SAJC South Australian Derby G1 (2500m)
Sold for: $280,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Kitchwin Hills
Buyer: Anthony Cummings
Earnings: $392,300
Owner(s): Mrs BL Cummings, Hobartville Stud Pty Ltd, Mr SA Springett, Mr R Portaro, Mr C Battese, Mr BA Battese, Mr TB Battese, Mr SK Bennett, Mr JR Jakobsson & Mansion Road
Trainer: Anthony Cummings (Randwick)
