Racing: Crowd favourite Sunline is full of surprises and such a champion

By MIKE DILLON

If Greg Childs seemed in awe of Sunline on Saturday it was because he was.

"This seems to be her year and I'm pleased to be on her - I'm privileged."

Childs admits he did not think he could continue to be amazed by Sunline's achievements, but he is.

The astute McKee stable had been adamant all week Sunline was not as fit going into Saturday's $100,000 Waikato Draught Sprint as she was when similarly fresh from a break when winning the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Counties on her way to Hong Kong.

But Childs says the champion mare felt better on Saturday than she did at Counties.

"She responded better than at Counties and at no stage did she ever give me the feel that she was tired."

The opposition certainly was.

To put the win in context it was a less than 90 per cent fit mare racing against the country's best sprinter in Fritz.

According to rider Noel Harris, Fritz produced the best effort of his career, but was left four and a half lengths behind by Sunline who was eased down by Childs 100m from the finish.

Horses simply cannot do things like that.

"She was a bit tardy at the gates today, too," said Childs. "Not like in Hong Kong where she flew the gates.

"I was going to track the leaders, but nothing else seemed interested in leading so I took it."

Childs is even suggesting Sunline may be learning to curb her naturally fierce aggression.

"I liked the way she relaxed in the middle stages today. She pulled a bit early, but then settled beautifully.

"I was surprised by the ease with which she won. I didn't think she was ready to do that."

Neither did Stephen McKee.

"I thought if she won by one length it would be nice, and remarkably she didn't look to have taken anything out of herself."

The McKee stable confirmed yesterday that Sunline was in great shape after her first-up effort.

"Terrific," said Trevor McKee as he left to board his flight for his fact-finding trip to Dubai.

McKee returns on Friday morning with a decision on whether Sunline will race in Dubai and, if so, whether it will be the $US6 million Dubai World Cup on dirt or the $US2 million Dubai Duty Free (1777m).

At Saturday's presentation both Trevor McKee and Greg Childs thanked the public for the support of Sunline.

"It gives us great satisfaction that the public of New Zealand is right behind us," said McKee. "It makes our job easier."

Childs said the public's response was fantastic given Sunline had so rarely appeared on New Zealand racetracks.

"But no matter where in the world we are, it's wonderful that New Zealanders support us, thank you."

Fritz was game in defeat and Michael Walker felt he would have beaten Fritz for second had Sunline not been in the race.

"Take Sunline out of the race and I would have led and dictated on Spring Rain and I don't think Fritz would have beaten us."

Spring Rain's trainer Roger James was worried about stablemate One Under after the mare had finished sixth, showing signs of field shyness.

"Being rammed into the running rail at Trentham last start has obviously had an effect on her which is damn annoying because she was always so brave in pushing and shoving. I'll have to try blinkers on her.

Sunline's blistering run in front took the sprint out of every rival to the extent the only notable improvement from the home turn was the game run into fourth by Durzetta.