Nearly 30 years after his champion mare Staging won the Surround Stakes, owner-breeder Peter Moran is hoping her great-granddaughter Sunrays can replicate that success as she steps up to Group 1 racing at Randwick. Sunrays, a five-time winner from nine starts, carries on the legacy of Staging, who was not only a top sprinter but also a prolific broodmare producing multiple Group 1 winners. Moran, who returned to breeding with Sunrays after a hiatus, acknowledges the filly’s potential despite some differences from her great-granddam and is optimistic about her chances in Sydney’s autumn carnival, especially given her strong performances in stakes races and the strategic decision to race her in Sydney to avoid heavy handicaps in Queensland.

Sunrays’ trainer Kelly Schweida has prepared her with the Light Fingers Stakes as a lead-up, though Sunrays faced some racing luck issues in that race. With jockey Jason Collett taking over, Moran hopes for a smoother run in the Surround Stakes, where she faces strong competition including Godolphin’s Tempted and Michael Freedman’s Apocalyptic. While acknowledging the difficulty of winning, Moran remains hopeful for a top-three finish. After the Randwick race, Sunrays is expected to return to Queensland for the Winter Carnival. Meanwhile, Schweida is also preparing stable star Grafterburners for a Group 1 campaign in Sydney, aiming for success beyond Queensland with the colt’s impressive summer form and upcoming target races like The Galaxy.