Racing: Sunline's son takes first step to recouping purchase price

Sun Ruler, Sunline's first son, clears maiden ranks at Avondale yesterday. Photo / Supplied

It's $6250 down and $1,993,750 to go.

That's to recoup the $2m purchase price on Sun Ruler, who gained his first win at Avondale yesterday.

If you think trainer Stephen McKee is daunted by the above sums, he's considerably less concerned than when the lightly-framed, under developed Zabeel-Sunline colt entered his stable to be broken in.

There was a massive hill to climb and while there still is, at least Sun Ruler has done what the majority of horses don't do - he's now won a race.

The first son of New Zealand's highest stakes earner did not make his debut until December 27 at Te Aroha when he finished a close third as beaten favourite over 1600m.

His overall form before yesterday's race was disappointing to many who expected more, but Stephen McKee has never been discouraged.

"On his last couple of runs he was always going to win in his next start or two."

Many of the stock of Zabeel have shown outstanding form at three, but others by the champion sire have been slow learners.

"Sunline's foals are slow maturing and he's by Zabeel," says McKee.

"He's just starting to learn what it's all about, he's been building up to a win for a while."

Sun Ruler was tried at 2200m (3rd) and 2000m (2nd), but he was dropped back to 1600m because of the way he's been racing.

"We put blinkers on him and he raced too fiercely to run out a middle distance," said McKee.

"Dropping him back to 1600m suited perfectly."

Sun Ruler led and kicked clear in the home straight to win easily.

"That'll do him for now, he can go out for a spell while the weather's good and come back in and be stabled through the winter."

McKee said he expected Sun Ruler to be a smart 2000m horse as he strengthens further.

The stable also won the last race yesterday with Panama, similarly well ridden by Sam Spratt.

Panama is a mare the stable has also experimented with wearing blinkers.

"She's been a mare that always travels the last 200m of her races with her ears pricked so we applied blinkers, but it backfired. She overraced so we took them off for this race."

McKee will attempt to win the $100,000 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa today with class mare Culminate, whom he has brought back from Sydney especially for the one race.

It will be Culminate's first run at 2000m.

Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue scored a stylish win with debut 2-year-old filly Aspinal in the $30,000 NZ Bloodstock 2YO Classic.

Aspinal got flushed three deep in the middle stages after drawing out a little, but still got home under difficulties to beat more experienced runners.

"She hung a bit so it was a very good effort," said rider Craig Grylls.

The Pins filly looked beaten at the 200m and displayed rare courage to fight back.