Disease claims champion racemare Sunline

Sunline's gravesite at Ellerslie is surrounded by flowers. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Greg Childs walked into a Melbourne shop yesterday morning and the attendant said: "You're that bloke that used to ride Sunline.

"What's your name, Boss, Gauci?"

The Australian-based former New Zealand jockey didn't mind - he has always known that despite making millions out of racing, Sunline was more famous than he was.

Ten minutes after he left the shop, trainer Stephen McKee called him from New Zealand to say Sunline had just been put down.

One of New Zealand's greatest racehorses, winner of $13,700,607, Sunline fell victim to laminitis, a degenerative disease that severely restricts blood flow to the feet.

Laminitis, which can cause extreme pain, struck the champion mare last year. It can be triggered by a variety of metabolic and physical causes from diet to compaction and is not always fatal.

Sunline had a top-end case of laminitis and the father-and-son owners of the mare, Trevor and Stephen McKee, flew world expert Ric Redden from the United States this week to get an opinion. His assessment was that Sunline had lost all quality of life.

"We've taken the only option available, acting on the best advice worldwide," said Stephen McKee yesterday.

Sunline was yesterday buried among the trees and gardens at Ellerslie Racecourse and a monument will be provided for the gravesite by the McKee family.

Sunline became a legend in Australia and New Zealand, winning 32 of her 48 races, including back-to-back Cox Plates, the weight-for-age championship of Australia.

She was retired after finishing fourth in the 2002 Cox Plate.

Sunline's second foal, by champion sire Zabeel, was bought by Auckland businessman Don Ha for $2 million at the 2007 Karaka Yearling Sales and as Sun Ruler, won his first race at Avondale last week.

Her first foal, Sunstrike, a winner at Te Aroha on February 13, competes in Race 5 on the same track today.

Matching Sunline's phenomenal racetrack performances was the way the brilliant mare was managed by Trevor and Stephen McKee.

They protected her magnificently and she retired sound after four years at the elite group one racing level, one or two years of which can see most horses past their best.