By Kristen Manning

A good horse can make a person's life more interesting, a champion can completely change a life - just ask Claire Bird, Racing Victoria Education and Training Centre's Trackriding Support Officer.

Six years ago Claire, who had just moved to Auckland, landed a job with trainers Trevor & Steve McKee at Takanini.

Prior to that she had spent three months in Japan, four years at Newbury Park and four years with trainer Malcolm Smith.

With no racing background at all, Claire was fascinated by horses from a young age - "my older sister Elaine used to live across the road from a racetrack," she reminisced, “and I would just sit on the fence and watch."

"One day, when I was ten, a trainer asked if I'd like to help."'

From thereon it was to the stables every morning and afternoon, weekend and school holiday. Upon completing school she embarked on a full time career of strapping and track riding.

Six months into her time at the McKee stables a young filly came into her life – one who at first proved difficult to manage.

"She was horrible," Claire recalled, "she was just so difficult to get from one place to another."

Placed under Claire's care, the bay did not take too long to settle into training routine and Claire still has vivid memories of the very first time she rode her.

"I took her out to the sand at Takanini," Claire said, "and she just wanted to bolt. I wouldn't let her, I just kept pulling her back.

She soon learned and I didn't have a problem with her after that."

Winter was approaching, and the filly named Sunline was in full work. And almost straight away everyone around her knew that they were connected with something special.

"Right from her first gallops she just did everything so easily," Claire remembered, "she was so big and gangly but she was running amazing times on heavy tracks."

May 10 1998 and Sunline debuted in a Paeroa maiden. Peter Johnson had the ride and she was third favourite in a field of 13.

Those horses didn't know what had hit them, the margin only 1.7 lengths but the superiority instantly clear.

Another three easy wins later and Sunline was in Sydney, the Group 3 Furious Stakes a launching pad for one of the most spectacular racing careers in Australasian history.

The next five and half years passed in a whirl and Claire Bird became an integral part of the Sunline story. Spending months at a time in Sydney and

Melbourne with trips to Hong Kong and Dubai in between, Claire had her horizons widened – meeting a range of people, her confidence growing as she deftly dealt with endless media enquiries and the well wishes of fans.

It is of those fans that Claire has many fond memories - "I was always amazed by just how much people loved Sunline," she said.

But not, of course, as much as Claire did, and does - the champion always in her thoughts.

"She gave me unconditional love, she'd follow me around - when I was down she knew and she would comfort me," Claire said - "I miss her."

A September day trip to the beautiful Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley, home to Rock of Gibraltar - Sunline's first mate - saw Claire visit the champ.

In a boisterous mood, Sunline played up to an appreciative crowd of onlookers who enjoyed the reunion between horse and strapper.

Months before Sunline's retirement had left a void a Claire's life - "I didn't have a reason to get up in the morning anymore," she said, admitting that she quickly found the job she had always loved unchallenging.

"I was bored," and so, when an offer from Racing Victoria came, she jumped at the chance to pursue a new career and she is passionate about her new role as Trackriding Support Officer.

"I really enjoy helping and teaching," she said, "it is great to have the chance to make a difference."

Meanwhile Claire is keeping her own skills finely tuned, riding track work each morning for trainer Michael Moroney.

The effervescent Pinkline Jones questions Claire Bird in his own unique style…

Claire, firstly can you please tell us a bit about what your current job entails?
I work at the Racing Victoria Education and Training Centre and I am trying to increase the number of track riders in Victoria and help improve the skills of those we already have.

I understand that you have to rise at around 3am everyday to do track work. I find this a bewildering concept as most of the people I associate with are usually only getting home at that time. How do you manage it?

I have done it for such a long time now, I am just used to it. And I get home at 3am sometimes but I just have to go straight to work!

I guess that many people would recognise you in the street. How do you handle it? Do you just run?

It doesn't happen that often and it’s usually at the races and I find that running tends to attract even more attention.

Have you been to an AFL game. Do you understand the scoring system and how it works when you get to deuce?

I have been to a couple of games and I still don't get one thing... -why do they get a point for missing!?

I guess its not quite as good as hurling which as everyone knows is your country's national game?

I have seen a few Aussies hurl quite well too.

I visited the Phar Lap exhibit last year and I found it a little disappointing – I tapped on the glass but got absolutely no response. But you're no doubt a lot better with horses than me.

Sometimes... I doubt that I would have gotten much more out of him. I'm good but I am not that good!

How does Sunline hold the pen when answering her fan mail?

With a little help from me. So anything
received after February is obviously a fake!

I guess you have all the Sunline gear - cap, shirt, curling wand, nail clippers, barbeque tongs and CD?

No, I have never had any of the gear - I had the horse so I didn't need anything else.

Would it be your opinion that the people who wear Sunline caps are in need of urgent psychiatric assessment?

No, I feel that people who don't are!

I know many people are dying to know the answer to this next one - what was Sunline's preferred toothpaste brand?

A lot of the time it was my blood! But Sunline had very good teeth so she just got Oddfellows - she had nice minty fresh breath.

What was your favourite Sunline moment?

When she won the W.S Cox Plate by seven lengths, her second Doncaster and her third in Dubai.

I heard you screaming out encouragement to Sunline in the Caulfield Stakes. You're obviously a big fan of Jimmy Barnes.

Yes, my voice sounded like his after that too.

What age did you take up riding and have you ever fallen off a rocking horse?

I started riding at about ten. I haven't fallen off a rocking horse but I did fall off the quietest horse in the stable recently.

Can you jump off a horse Frank Dettori style?

I would fall flat on my face if I even thought about trying it.

Should vegemite be on the banned substances list?

Yes.

Do you think that the Swan Hill Cup should be promoted to Group One level?

Without a doubt.

Do you have any ambitions to be a trainer or to do any other particular thing in the racing industry or in fact any other industry?

I will never train a racehorse as long as I can draw breath! Still not sure what I want to do with my life. Will find out one day I suppose.

Now the final question which has had a lot of people conjecturing in pubs across the nation right at this moment - is it true that Greg Childs used to wear red, blue and yellow underpants when he was riding Sunline?

I think so, although he may have worn nothing. You would have to ask him.