By MIKE DILLON
How many times can Sunline be a winner?
She missed out last week on being an inaugural inductee to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, but has been declared a certainty to end up there.
Melbourne racecaller Bryan Martin, a member of the Hall of Fame selection panel, told the Herald yesterday that Sunline had been strongly considered for the huge honour of being one of the first inducted.
Only five horses were inducted at last Wednesday's dinner at the Crown Casino in Melbourne - Bernborough, Carbine, Phar Lap, Tulloch and Kingston Town.
"I can tell you Sunline was right on the cusp this time with horses like Might and Power and Manikato," said Martin.
"She's a shoo-in to eventually make it."
You have to applaud the Australians for considering what is totally a New Zealand icon.
Interestingly, Sunline polled second behind Phar Lap when the public were asked for their five nominations.
But Sunline has been a winner in another way this week.
The $10 million champion New Zealand mare will be the biggest benefactor of the Australian Jockey Club's decision to run this year's $A600,000 Epsom Handicap over 1400m on its all-weather inside track.
Takanini trainer Trevor McKee is waiting to see what weight Sunline gets in the Epsom before declaring her a starter, but the club's controversial move will play some part in his final decision.
The all-weather track is being used at Randwick until the reconstruction of the course proper is finished next year, and cannot accommodate a 1600m start.
The Thoroughbred Racing Board rejected a strongly supported suggestion that the Epsom should be run over its traditional 1600m distance at the club's secondary track, Warwick Farm.
Sydney jockey Glen Boss this weekend labelled Randwick's all-weather track "clodsville," saying that only midweek meetings should be held on it.
Sunline's on-pace style means a tight circuit with plenty of give in the footing is exactly what she is looking for.
It would make her task of carrying what will certainly be a decent weight that much easier.
McKee said yesterday that he was extremely pleased with the early stages of Sunline's new preparation.
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New Zealand Trainers Association president Chris Wood takes exception to claims that racing administrators are doing everything they can to protect the industry from the increasing encroachment of gaming.
Wood said racing badly needed legislation so it could compete with gaming.
He rejected as nonsense claims last week by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing president Murray Acklin that the body had done everything it possibly could to protect racing.
Wood said that racing's share of the gambling market had declined from 78 per cent to 15 per cent within 15 years.
"Unlike most forms of gambling, racing is a major employer, yet we're not on level footing."
Wood and Acklin are at odds over how the success of overseas markets has been interpreted.
"Victorian racing is touted as probably the finest racing system in the world," said Wood.
"It is only 1300 miles away and our administrators have failed to look at it as a model for success."
Acklin strongly denied that claim.
Wood said administrators needed to be more accountable.
"All these people on these boards are accountable and, like anyone in an elected position, have to perform or step aside.
"As representatives of owners and trainers, and therefore indirectly breeders, they have failed to deliver on promises.
"We all know there are no simple solutions, but you have to look for one.
"The other day the people we are talking about were asked what strategic plan they had and they said there wasn't one.
"Well, that's not good enough. We need people at the top who do have plans."
High-profile trainer Paul O'Sullivan supported him.
"Racing is a corporate industry and the success or failure of any corporation falls at the feet of the principal administrators."
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Two new riding stars featured at the Ruakaka races yesterday.
Takanini apprentice Samantha Spratt rode her second winner from four rides and Chris Rauhihi scored his first win at what was only his second ride.
Both are looking at the top of the ladder.
Racing: Sunline a favourite, but Hall of Fame must wait
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