THE FACTS
7yo bay mare
Desert Sun (GB) - Songline (NZ)
(Western Symphony)

48 Starts: 32 wins, nine seconds, three thirds
66.7% winning strike rate, 91.7% place
$11,351,607 prizemoney

-Eight first up runs: seven wins, one second
Eight second up runs: five wins, two seconds, one third
-One start on a fast track: one win
-25 starts on good tracks: 13 wins, seven seconds, two thirds
-11 starts on dead tracks: nine wins, one second
-Six starts on slow tracks: five wins, one second
-Five starts on heavy tracks: four wins, one third

• Never tasted defeat in New Zealand
• Crowned Australian Horse of the Year a record three times
• NZ Horse of the Year a record four times
• Rated Timeform's World Champion Turf Mare 1999
• Timeform World Champion Female 2000
• Inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in July 2002
• Highest rated mare since the inception of the Australia & NZ Classifications
• Earned her dam the award of NZ Broodmare of the Year three times
• Earned her trainer the title of NZ Trainer of the Year and Owner of the Year
• Earned her breeders the title of NZ Breeders of the Year

Spare a thought for a horse called Speed To Burn who had the misfortune of meeting a horse with just that at his debut. An Australian bred gelding sent out second favourite in a Paeroa maiden on May 10 1998, he was beaten 1.7 lengths by Sunline. Successful at his next outing he was only once again in the placings.

THE FANS
In October last year the Internet site Letitride.com paid tribute to Sunline by hosting a forum for fans to post their messages. A few examples of what was written are reprinted here.

KHAKI
"Thank you for the life long memories that you have given me and the rest of not only the racing public, but all sports fans in Australasia. I will never forget the time I was in a quiet costal pub in Queensland on Doncaster Day and inexperienced punters were coming in asking how to fill out a ticket with Sunline's name on top. They were obviously not racing folk but they knew who was going to win - they were right - the roar of excitement when she gave her customary turn of foot to kick clear in the straight still sends shivers down my spine. The public LOVE this horse."

"It will often be debated how she ranks to the other greats in the history of racing. But the fact that she has not only crossed the boundaries of sport in this country but into a place in Australian culture leaves no doubt in my mind that she will be remembered as a true “champion". Thanks for the thrills and I will look forward to seeing the Sunline offspring rocking the tracks of the world in the years to come."

JULIO
"I have seen it written, or heard it said, that the true measure of a champion is the athlete's ability to pull people from outside their sport, their ability to capture the broader public's imagination. On this measure there can be no doubt that this mare is a champion."

PINKHEAD JONES
"You are my Sunline, my only Sunline
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear how much I love you
So Trevor McKee please don't take our Sunline away
The other night dear, as I lay dreaming
I dreamt that you were by my side
Came disillusion when I awoke dear
You were gone and then I cried
You are my Sunline, my only Sunline
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear how much I love you
So Trevor McKee please don't take our Sunline away.

JJ
"Well, being a young race follower, I feel privileged to have seen a once in a life-time horse like Sunline. "

GRAY JESSUP (USA)
"Sunline has captured more than just the hearts of those in her homeland region but also many fans around the world. She is a true champion in every sence of the word and a heroine to race fans everywhere."

SUNLINESRGIRL
"Thanks for the tears and cheers. I've followed your career from the start and won't be stopping now wherever you go to stud. May all your carrots be crunchy and all apples sweet. The greatest of all our racemares I wish you all the best for your new life, may your next handlers love you as does Claire."

STEVE M
"Congratulations to all concerned on the career of the mighty mare Sunline. A champion mare and racehorse the likes of which we will never see again. In an era where most struggle to remain at the top for more than a season Sunline has remained at the top right to the very end - rare indeed. So many victories, so hard to choose. Who could ever forget her campaign in the autumn as a 3Y0 winning the MV Oaks in a canter (a sign of things to come) and then the Doncaster. Or perhaps it was the Spring of 2000 which began with a three length win over 1200m at Group One and culminated with a seven length win over 2040m at Group One. A day in which we were told we may be witnessing the greatest mare in the world - and on that day surely we were. But for mine it was her second place in the Doncaster, out in front giving everything a chance to beat her, defying most but not all. But always giving, fighting, giving - right to the
very end. Farewell Sunline."

TOM DOYLE
"You will forever reign as the Queen of the Australasian turf. Thank you so much Claire for bringing her over to us after the race. It means a lot. I'll never forget you Sunline."

"From your No. 1 fan, Tom Doyle (the one in the hat and shirt with the tear-stained face watching you at your stall after the race) Sunline, we salute you."

SHALFORD
"There was a young girl named Claire
Whose horse was a bit of a lair
She took her to places
and won many races
A formidable team that pair!"

And finally, a message from Sunline's breeders Michael Martin and Susan Archer:

"A very warm thank you from us to all of Sunline's many fans and supporters around the world, but especially throughout New Zealand & Australia, who have followed her career with such loyalty, passion and enthusiasm.

No matter where she goes or who owns her, she will always belong in a very special way to the racing public of Australia & New Zealand - as your hero, an indelible part of turf history, and, we hope, as an inspiration to make your own dreams come true.

Our overwhelming sentiment is gratitude – to Stephen and Trevor for training her & managing her career with such skill and restraint; to Trevor, Thayne & Helen for giving her the opportunity we could not afford to give her; to Claire for her constant care of, and devotion to Sunline; to her jockeys Peter Johnson, Larry Cassidy and especially Greg Childs; to Ngaire Fraser who reared her and Tim Welch who broke Sunline in; and to my parents Robin & Muriel Archer, who bought
and raced her grandmother & bred her mother, with a special acknowledgment to my father, who made us believe that we could breed another great horse from the family that once produced Phar Lap.

Most of all, we feel profound gratitude to our glorious mare… class & courage, speed & strength, grace & power consistently displayed across four years of competition in the very best company - we can ask no more of Sunline."