Breeding & Racing Magazine

Aust-Bred Sun Classique Wins Dubai Black-Type

In Dubai, former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Fuji Kiseki (Sunday Silence-Millracer, by Le Fabuleux) added a black-type success at the 8th meeting of the 2008 Dubai International Racing Carnival when Australian-bred 4YO mare Sun Classique (Fuji Kiseki-Elfenjer, by Last Tycoon) came from what looked an impossible position with 150m to go to grab victory by a head in the US$150,000 Listed Balanchine Stakes (1777m on turf) for fillies & mares at Nad Al Sheba & simultaneously notch her 2nd successive stakes-win of the carnival. Sun Classique (ridden by Kevin Shea for South African trainer Mike De Kock) finished fast to defeat Godolphin's UK-bred Many Colours (Green Desert-First Of Many, by Darshaan) & Brazilian-bred Light Green (Blush Rambler-Star Procida, by Procida). At her previous start (& Dubai debut) Sun Classique cruised home in the Listed Cape Verdi Stakes (1600m on turf) at Nad Al Sheba on February 7. And last season Sun Classique (born & raised at Widden Stud in the NSW Hunter Valley prior to her export to South Africa in June 2004) was named South Africa's Champion 3YO Classic Female (1600m+) at the annual Equus Awards. During 2007 she won both the Gr1 Woolavington 2200 (2200m) at Greyville & Gr1 Majorca Stakes (1600m) against older rivals at Kenilworth; & in 2006 she won the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas (1600m) at Kenilworth & Gr3 Diana Stakes (plus finishing runner-up in both the Gr1 Paddock Stakes & Gr1 Thekwini Fillies Stakes). South African owner-breeder Lionel Cohen's Equimark paid $32,500 for Sun Classique's dam Elfenjer at the 2003 Inglis Broodmare Sale; Elfenjer is a daughter of Gr1 SAJC Oaks winner Gamine.