Sunline's Back - But Only Just!
- Saturday, 24 August 2002 00:00
Sunline lived up to her champion billing by
winning the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes today, but it wasn't the easy victory expected by
the thousands who flocked to Hastings racecourse to see the great mare.In a planned move, Tit For Taat and apprentice jockey Michael Walker took the race to Sunline and Greg Childs, crossing to lead and fighting all the way to the finish.
When Childs asked Sunline for an effort 250 metres out, the expected burst of acceleration failed to eventuate. Childs was forced to pull the whip and drove his mount all the way to the finish for a three-quarter length win.
There was another length to fast finishing Cent Home, narrowly shading Conquistar.
"Run the race at equal weights and we beat her," declared Michael Walker on unsaddling after the weight-for-age race.
Childs was not prepared to concede so readily.
"I always thought we would get past the other horse," he said, "but I have
to admit I was worried that something else might get over the top of us."
The 1400 metres was run on an easy track in a very good 1:22.98. Co-trainer Stephen McKee said afterwards that there was only a slim chance that Sunline would be back at Hastings for the Glenmorgan Hawke's Bay Challenge Stakes on September 14.
"Sydney in two weeks' time or Melbourne a week later are more likely," he said. "We'll just see how she pulls up."
Wayne Herbert and Jim Wallace were thrilled with the respective efforts of Tit For Taat and Cent Home.
The latter will attempt to add the Glenmorgan to his list of achievements and then try for a second Kelt Capital Stakes on September 28.
PICS - Quentin
Lang.
Media Release - TNZ