Hussonet-Sunline filly wins her first trial

Sunsett, the 3YO daughter of Arrowfield’s champion sire Hussonet and world champion racemare Sunline, made her first public appearance a successful one, when she won a trial at Ruakaka, New Zealand this morning.

Sunsett is appropriately named, for she is the last foal of her superstar mother, who developed laminitis in 2008 and was euthanised on 1 May 2009.

The filly is trained by Stephen McKee, who also owns her in partnership with two of Sunline’s racing owners, his father Trevor McKee and Thayne Green. Sunsett won the 800-metre catchweight trial by a length in a time of 50.24 seconds. Ruakaka was a happy choice for her first trial, as it is the track where her mother won her first stakes race, the Whangarei RC Northland Breeders’ S. LR, on 9 July 1998.

Sunline’s first two foals, 6YO mare Sunstrike and 5YO entire Sun Ruler have each won two races, while her 4YO daughter Sunalta has trialled, but not yet raced.

Bred in New Zealand in 1995, Sunline (Desert Sun-Songline by Western Symphony) won 32 of her 48 starts between May 1998 and October 2002, including the MVRC W.S. Cox Plate G1 – twice, AJC Doncaster H. G1 – twice, the STC Coolmore Classic G1 – twice, the AJC All Aged S. G1 – twice, and the HKJC Hong Kong Mile G1. Her tally of 13 Group One victories is more than any other Australasian mare in the modern era, and second only to the great Kingston Town (14 Group One wins).

Sunline was named Australian Horse of the Year in 2000, 2001 & 2002, and won the equivalent New Zealand title four times. She was inducted to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2002, and was an inaugural inductee to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, in 2006.

Hussonet is Australia’s leading active sire of Group One winners, with a tally of 27 to date, including the seven-time Group One winner, and 2008 Australian Horse of the Year, Weekend Hussler. The total prizemoney won by Hussonet’s four Australian crops that have raced now approaches $14 million.