Racing: Champion mare's winning line continues

Sunline would have been proud of her foals: Sun Ruler (4) and Sunstrike in the Lodge City Rentals 1200 at Te Rapa.

In a betting spree two weeks ago, Melbourne bookmakers fielded as much as $150 about Sun Ruler for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups later next year.

That might have looked extravagant after the 4-year-old son of Sunline scored a remarkable first-up victory at Te Rapa on Saturday.

In fact, the bookies can relax - Sun Ruler is about those same odds to even be in Melbourne next spring, according to trainer Stephen McKee.

"That's not because we don't rate him," said McKee after Sun Ruler just got the better of older half sister Sunstrike in the last 50 of Saturday's Lodge City Rentals 1200 at Te Rapa.

In fact, the McKee stable has a big opinion of Sun Ruler, despite the fact it took the high flyer six starts to quit maidens last campaign.

The $2 million yearling purchase at Karaka always looked like a slow-maturing type.

Which is why he was able to win over 1200m on Saturday - he was that much stronger.

Big, weak horses can look one-paced when they're young, but as they develop physically and strengthen beyond recognition at times, their added strength allows them to muster a much more impressive sprint.

That's Sun Ruler.

Stephen McKee has always known he's had a potentially top-class son of Sunline on his hands, despite some knockers, but he also knew he was going to have to wait on him to produce his best.

Why it was always going to be difficult for Sun Ruler to beat his older half sister at Te Rapa on Saturday is that Sunstrike had previously had a run this campaign and was therefore understandably fitter.

"He's always had a good turn of foot, but he lacked the strength for it earlier," said Stephen McKee.

"There was not much to come back for in the autumn, so we turned him out after he scored his maiden win."

McKee thought Sunstrike was the better chance of the two on Saturday.

"He [Sun Ruler] was always going to have to cover ground from his draw and he hadn't had a barrier trial, where Sunstrike had had a race.

"It was his first time off the property since April, so it was a terrific effort."

Sunstrike, with a 4.5kg pull in the weights, looked the winner, even when Sun Ruler lodged a powerful claim. Eventually class told and Sun Ruler thrust his nose in front in the last bound.

"I rate him a Kelt [Capital Stakes] type of horse later next year, but he wouldn't be going anywhere overseas unless he won that.

"If he measures up, I'd say that later on he'll be one of those fast Zabeels, like Might And Power.

"Just how good he is is up to him to tell us."