Sunline Progeny To Fore
- Saturday, 19 December 2009 13:45
She may no longer be with us, but memories of champion mare Sunline resurfaced at Te Rapa racecourse in Hamilton on Saturday when two of her progeny, Sun Ruler and Sunstrike, fought out the finish of a race.
Sunline, who won thirty-two of her forty-eight starts, including thirteen at group one level and banked over NZ$14million dollars, succumbed to laminitis in May this year after battling the debilitating hoof condition for twelve months, and was laid to rest at Ellerslie racecourse in Auckland.
Both trained by Stephen McKee who with his father Trevor prepared and campaigned Sunline, the two draw cards lined up over 1200 metres.
Reported to be in peak condition to resume from a spell, Sun Ruler a $2m sale topping yearling at Karaka came with a stout finish out of midfield with Sunstrike, before gaining her measure right on the line.
The victory gave inform rider Leith Innes his fourth success for the day and moved him to fourth place in the jockey premiership.
While Sunstrike does not possess the size and scope of her younger brother, she appears capable of further victories, and the past remarks by Stephen McKee that Sun Ruler would be a far better proposition in time, appear to be spot on.
Commencing with a win, his second from seven starts, augurs well for his planned campaign and he seems capable of working through the grades as he steps up further in distance.
