10 June 2019 | Shane Yates
“What a horse he is, he’s a serious player, a special horse in every way.”
The accolades were flowing from trainer Kent Rattray on Sunday night in Launceston when Tasmania’s most exciting three-year-old Sunny Sanz strolled to an 11.2-metre victory in the $50,000 Group 2 Roberts Rural Supplies Globe Derby final.
A year earlier, owners Nathan and Sandra Bennett stood along Rattray devastated by the news Sunny Sanz (pictured) had suffered a serious leg injury and his highly promising racing career lay in the balance.
“It’s been an amazing 12 months, a real team effort by everyone connected with Sunny Sanz, the Longford Equine Vet Clinic has been nothing short of incredible, Nathan and Sandra have spent a lot of money on him, he’s had shockwave and stem-cell treatment, he’s enjoyed months with the cows in the paddocks of Ringarooma and we’ve put in hours and hours into working on him to get him fit for his return, the reward for all has come for everyone tonight,” said Kent.
“He’s a courageous animal with enormous ability, I could sit on the sidelines and just watch him work all day, he has the most magnificent action in full flight and I can see him winning some serious races in the future.
Stable-driver John Walters took no chances in the 2200-metre final staying wide from gate six in the run to the first turn before assuming control.
The heavily backed $1.12 fixed odds favourite was never out of second gear recording a mile-rate of 1:57.7 seconds, strolling home in a last half of 57.8 seconds.
“Even though it was an armchair drive for John (Walters) in the final, he has played a vital role in ‘Sunny’s’ career both behind the scenes and on the racetrack’” said Kent.
“We will give a few weeks off and then bring him back with the idea of picking up a few races late in the season the end of the season before mapping out his four-year-old campaign.”
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