Roger James let out a sigh of relief when Zonda walked off the float at his Matamata stable yesterday.
The star galloper looked in great condition after his terrific third at Trentham on Saturday and his long trip back home.
"He's bounced through it well," said James.
"I was delighted with his effort. He was 15 lengths off them with 600m to run and he's been beaten one and threequarter lengths carrying 57.5kg.
"That was a super performance. The 1400m prove to be too short for him."
Michael Walker was impressed.
"On that run he's definitely on his way back."
And in a paddock not too distant from where Zonda was being off-loaded was the winner of Saturday's Auto Auctions Avondale Guineas, Danamite.
And after taking the Guineas, the long, lanky 3-year-old did not leave enough overnight feed to fill a sparrow.
* * *
Second Coming is back to full health and will fly to Hong Kong from Melbourne tonight for next Sunday's Hong Kong Bowl.
The Melbourne Cup third placegetter was pulled off the Friday night flight which took Sunline because his temperature was elevated.
"He was treated and he was back to 100 per cent by Saturday morning and is fine to travel," said trainer Mike Moroney from Melbourne.
All of which is great news for the Sunline camp, who could have been stranded without a close mate for the champion mare if Second Coming had not travelled.
Queensland sprinter Falvalon is in the same quarantine barn as Sunline, but because he is a colt he cannot be stabled nearby.
"He's down the opposite end of the barn," said Sunline's co-trainer Stephen McKee.
"It will be great when Second Coming is put in alongside her."
Sunline generally takes a few days to settle into new surroundings, but has coped magnificently with the change of environment this time.
"She ate pretty much a full feed last night," McKee.
"Claire (Bird) took her for a walk today and says she is as bright as she could be. We're very happy."
Tonight's flight will also include one of Sunline's main threats Testa Rossa, Black Bean and Mr Innocent.
* * *
No, Lance O'Sullivan is not the world's greatest judge to have got off stable runner Edberg and top it off in the last stride with Cervant on Saturday.
O'Sullivan does not ride Edberg. The promising stayer is part owned by Westbury Farm's Russell Warwick and Mark Du Plessis is married to his partner Lesley's daughter Barbara, which starts to sound like an old episode of Dallas.
O'Sullivan copped a replacement ride on Cervant, whose regular rider had been - Mark Du Plessis.
"I ride him in his work though," said O'Sullivan, who is tipping Edberg to win a handy race this summer.
And if you are wondering why O'Sullivan did not ride his brother Paul's winner Tri Sonic, it was because he was away at the World Jockeys' Series in Japan last week when the rides were arranged.
* * *
If there is one sure thing in the horse industry it's that Michael Walker will make his second consecutive appearance on the front cover of the 2001 New Zealand Racing Annual late next year.
Appropriately, Walker adorns the cover of the colourful 2000 edition, in a pose similar to the dash he displayed after winning the New Zealand Cup on Smiling Like.
David Bradford has done a great job ably assisted by a wonderful photographic record of the 1999-2000 racing season.
Features on Michael Walker, Kylie Bax and Sunline and an overall review of the stars make for a great read.
* * *
There have always been a million ways you can get beaten in horse racing.
There are now 1,000,001.
The meeting at provincial Clare in South Australia yesterday had to be abandoned because of locusts.
Racing: Zonda bounces back well after terrific third
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.