Sun Gift shines at Seymour

Savabeel mare Sun Gift (ex Sunniva) bounced back from a last-start health issue to comfortably put her maiden rivals away at Seymour on Friday.

The Danny O’Brien-trained four-year-old won in a style over 2000 metres that confirmed her stable’s confidence in her ability to reach a much higher level over ground.

Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, Sun Gift had finished runner-up in three of her seven starts and had been sent out a warm favourite at her previous outing at Moe only to tail the field home.

“She had an issue (cardiac arrhythmia) and the team did really well to get her back and she presented in great order,” stable representative Lachlan Currie said.

Sun Gift was taken back to midfield from an outside gate by rider Fred Kersley before they improved wide near the turn, and she held a sustained gallop to win with authority.

“Fred did a good job and she hit the line well,” Currie said.

“Her form had been pretty good and she’s a progressive stayer in the making.”

Sun Gift is a daughter of the unraced Pour Moi mare Sunniva, whose son of Savabeel sold to O’Brien at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $120,000.

Sunniva is out of a half-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Efficient and is due to foal to Noverre.