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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Ryan Maloney basically planned his spring around classy mare Sunshine In Paris so he's excited to see what the Group 1 winner can produce first-up at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Ryan Maloney (Pic: Grant Guy)

And based on a head turning piece of work earlier in the week he has every reason to think the Group 2 $300,000 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes (1200m) is within her reach.

Maloney played FIFO worker in the autumn to the ride the Annabel Neasham-trained mare, and it paid off with a Group 1 Surround Stakes win, and when she was sold for $3.9m at the Magic Millions Broodmare sale and it was clear she’d race on he was straight on the phone.

“After she was sold I rang Annabel and said do you reckon I could retain the ride,’’ Maloney said.

“Luckily John Camilleri was happy to keep me on. So I thought I may as well stay here and do the work and see if I can pick up anything else.

“And Annabel has been a good support since I’ve been here.”

While Sunshine In Paris’s barrier trials haven’t been scene stealers, Maloney said that’s customary for her – certainly in his time on the horse.

But a gallop with unbeaten stablemate Libertad this week captured his imagination and he hopes it means she’s on course for a big first-up performance.

“She’s never one that you sit back and go ‘wow she’s flying’,’’ he said.

“In her gallops and trials she just does what you ask her, she just does the bare minimum really.

“Tuesday morning was easily the best piece of work she’s done all prep. She jumped out of the ground which is the first time she’s done it all prep since I’ve been riding her.

“You can get horses that are over the top and they work too good to be true but with her she sat off Libertad and when I gave her a squeeze she went on with it.

“I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about because it shows she’s in a good space.”

From a middle draw, Maloney expects Sunshine In Paris, $7 with TAB on Thursday, to have every chance with the likes of I Am Me and Queen Of The Ball natural on pacers.

“They’ll make the pace, she’s always been better in the stalking role and cuddled up and saved for one crack at them,’’ he said.

Last year’s Sheraco was won by Shades Of Rose and that mare found herself in the TAB Everest on the back of the victory. Sunshine In Paris is a $26 chance in Everest all-in betting.

Meanwhile, Maloney is interested to see what Maotai can do at his first run for Neasham in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m).

Sunshine In Paris trials at Randwick on August 25

The gelding has an imposing fresh record and having partnered him to a win at Rosehill in March and one of his two recent trials Maloney knows he’s on a capable horse.

“I think he’s in a good space this prep,’’ he said.

“I haven’t had a lot to do with him in trackwork but the way he’s been trialling I give him a good show.

“He’s a bit hit and miss throughout his career but I think he’s starting to mature mentally.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting