While leading local International hope Fairy King Prawn was finding the 22-pound concession to King of Danes a short head too onerous at the weekend, Sunline, his main challenger in the Hong Kong Mile, was bolting home in her native New Zealand.
The champion mare took the 1,400-metre, Group Two Auckland Breeders' Thoroughbred Stakes at Pukekohe by a commanding 3.25 lengths to make it 22 wins from 30 starts and 10 wins from her last 13.
Her success in a useful one minute, 21.4 seconds drew further praise from regular rider Greg Childs who has already won an International Cup on the Laurie Laxon-trained filly Romanee Conti. He enthused: 'She beat them with ridiculous ease, even though the opposition probably had a fitness advantage.' Sunline won the same race before disappointing behind Jim And Tonic in last season's 2,000-metre Hong Kong Cup. Connections are confident she will atone in the Mile. 'I'd like to think she can redeem herself,' said co-trainer Stephen McKee. 'I'm more confident this year. She's more mature now and the 1,600-metre race is far more suitable. Last time, we just didn't have the time to get her fit enough for the 2,000 metres.'
Childs, himself a successful Club Jockey here in the mid-90s, is also brimming with confidence. 'Everything's right for her this time. She felt great on the weekend. I couldn't believe how easily she beat them,' he said.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Jockey Club dominated the yearling section of this week's sales at Tattersalls in Newmarket with the three top lots all bound for next year's International Sale. The most expensive purchase, sure to draw plenty of bidders, was a Danehill colt out of the Italian two-year-old winner, Mythical Creek, who is a half-sister to the Hong Kong Derby winner and International Cup second, Johan Cruyff.