13 May 2019 | Shane Yates for Tasracing
A 12-month injury-enforced lay off in the paddock failed to stop former star two-year-old Sunny Sanz from making a sensational comeback in Launceston on Sunday night, taking his career record to four wins from four starts.
The Kent Rattray-trained Sportswriter-Soho Summer three-year-old cruised to victory over Spoilt Sports in the Longford Equine Clinic Pace over 1680 metres, recording a slashing last-half into the bargain.
“I can’t remember another 55.3 last-half recorded in Launceston, it was an outstanding return from a quality young horse and to do it first up from such a long injury break is amazing,” said Kent.
“John (Walters) and I discussed the way we thought best to put him into the race and we both agreed that Spoilt Sport is a high-speed horse and with Ricky Duggan aboard was going to be a huge danger, you won’t be given a better run in the race than from R. Duggan, so we decided to go back and let Sunny Sanz settle and then move up to eye-ball him at the 800-metre pole.”
In fact, The Rod Ashwood-trained Spoilt Sport did lead from the mobile and recorded leisurely early splits of 31 and 32.1 seconds, but as planned Sunny Sanz loomed ominously at the halfway mark.
“He travelled sweetly up to the leader and they picked up the tempo going down the back and were still locked together turning for home, but Sunny kicked into another gear and hit the line strongly to win by 4.4 metres over Spoilt Sport with the rest 40 metres away,” said Rattray.
“He’s pulled up a treat, he travelled home well, licked his bin out and is galloping around in the paddock this morning as good as gold, so we will stick with our plan for the Globe Derby going forward, we owe a huge thanks to Isobelle out at the Longford Equine Clinic, she put a great deal of expertise and care into him from day one so I was pleased to see Sunday’s race sponsored by the Clinic.”
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