Sunline to Resume at Hastings
- Thursday, 08 August 2002 00:00
Hawke's Bay Racing Incorporated general manager
John McGifford was delighted to receive a phone call from Takanini trainer Trevor McKee earlier today confirming the
stables intention to start recently crowned Australian Horse of the Year Sunline at
Hastings in the G2 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) on August 24."Naturally we are delighted to have her resuming here", McGifford said.
"The weather has cleared and with 2 1/2 weeks to the race we are confident that the track will be ideal", he said.
It is expected that the rail will be in its true position, thus providing footing that has not been used since the May 11 racemeeting.
Trainer Trevor McKee was also pleased to hear of the improved state of the Hastings track following the cancellation of last Thursday's meeting due to heavy rain.
"Hastings is our preferred choice, but we
will be guided by the weather in the week leading up to the race", said McKee from
his Takanini training complex.
Due to the historically fickle spring weather patterns, Sunline will also be nominated for 1400 metre events in Sydney and Melbourne as a possible alternative.
"We don't want to start her on a bog track like we did last year as it did tend to knock her a bit - and I don't think she likes it wet like she used to - they get a bit older and craftier", McKee said.
In her last three New Zealand race starts at Pukekohe and Te Rapa, Sunline has drawn huge crowds and with 12 individual Group One winners amongst the 30 nominations for the $150,000 feature, John McGifford will be smiling for some time.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - TNZ