By GREGG WYCHERLEY
The smart money is on champion mare Sunline to earn her owners more than $50 million as a racer and broodmare.
Now five years old, Sunline could breed until the age of about 20, giving her the potential to produce 12 to 14 foals.
With prices for top yearlings hitting $3.6 million, Sunline could bring in more than $50 million over her career as a broodmare.
Sunline beat local favourite Fairy King Prawn in the $2.65 million Hong Kong mile on Sunday, bringing her career earnings to $9.6 million. She has won more money than any other horse in Australasian racing history.
Sunline is half-owned by Takanini trainer Trevor McKee. Aucklanders Thayne Green and Helen Lusty each own a quarter share.
McKee said they would probably race her in the $14 million Dubai World Cup, which would be her first start on a dirt track.
The owner of champion sire Zabeel, Sir Patrick Hogan, said that if Sunline were taken overseas to breed, perhaps to America, she could make huge money.
"There's a great potential for her to go to Zabeel or any stallion in the world," he said.
"She's got a huge future; it's just a matter of when they do it all."
New Zealand Bloodstock chairman Peter Vela said Sunline could go anywhere in the world and produce top foals.
"The sky is the limit for a mare like that. There's nowhere in the world where she wouldn't be famous."
A foal sired by Zabeel sold for $3.6 million last year, and Mr Vela said Sunline's foals could fetch similar prices.
"I've no doubt that sort of level will be exceeded in the future and she's one of the mares that could well do it," he said.
There was no guarantee she would produce top foals, but the chances were high that prices for her progeny could break records.
"If the first foals come out and win group races, then the sky's the limit. You wouldn't even try to put a value on it," he said.
The value of the foals did not necessarily decrease as the mare aged. Their worth would depend on the racing ability of her first progeny rather than her own ability.
Racing: Top mare looks at $50m future
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