WELLINGTON - Champion mare Sunline is destined to become the first horse to win the Horse Of The Year title in successive years.
Sunline has been confirmed as a finalist in two categories - sprinter-miler and weight-for-age - and will be odds-on to win the overall title which will be announced at the Mercedes-sponsored dinner in Auckland on August 18.
The only other horses to have won the title twice have been Show Gate and Rough Habit but they were not in successive years. Show Gate's awards came in the 1974-75 and 1976-77 seasons while Rough Habit won in the 1991-92 and 1994-95 seasons.
Sunline won her first award as a three-year-old when she also took out the age group category as well as top sprinter-miler.
Her record as a four-year-old was equally, if not more, impressive with 11 starts producing six wins, three seconds, a fourth and a seventh.
Three of her wins were at group one level - the Cox Plate (2040m), All-Aged Stakes (1600m) and Coolmore Classic (1500m) - with the other three all rated group two. They were the Apollo Stakes (1400m), Warwick Stakes (1400m) and Auckland Breeders Stakes (1400m).
Her stake earnings for the season were $3,008,824 which took her career earnings to $5,554,167 - making her the biggest stakes winner in New Zealand history.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has chosen the finalists from nominations and the winners will be decided on a points system. Finalists are:
Two-year-old: Little Jamie, Spring Rain, Winged Foot.
Three-year-old: Ad Alta, Buzz Lightyear, Hades, Hill Of Grace.
Sprinter-miler: Cannsea, Sunline, Tall Poppy.
Weight-for-age: Cent Home, Rebel, Showella, Sunline.
Stayer: Able Master, Aerosmith, Second Coming, Showella.
Jumper: Drops O'Rain, Rand, Royal Ways.
Broodmare: Easter Queen (dam of Happyanunoit), Show Queen (Showella, Buster Jones), Singline (Sunline).
Jockey: Opie Bosson, Hayden Tinsley, Michael Walker.
Trainer: Noel Eales, Trevor and Stephen McKee, Robert Priscott, Del Roberts, Graeme Rogerson and Keith Hawtin, Mark Walker.
Breeder: John Corcoran, Susan Archer and Michael Martin, Peter and Phillip Vela, Windsor Park Stud.
Owner: Tim Bodle, Thayne Green, Helen Lusty and Trevor McKee, Terry Jarvis.
Broadcaster: Adrian Clark, Peter Earley, Tony Lee.
Other awards that will be presented on the night:
McBeath apprentice jockey of the year: Michael Walker.
Dewar stallion of the year (Australia-NZ combined): Zabeel.
Grosvenor stallion of the year (NZ): Zabeel.
Filly of the year: Sarwatch.
- NZPA
Racing: Sunline on target for top honour again
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