Sunline Stakes

Winners and Past Results

Moonee Valley Racing Club pays tribute to champion thoroughbred racehorse Sunline with a 1600 metre weight for age race held in his honour. Bonus $250 Bet That Can't Lose

Formerly known as the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the Sunline Stakes is a Group 2 race for fillies and mares three years old and above. The race is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in March during the Melbourne autumn racing carnival. The mile race is worth $200,000 and is held alongside the Group 1 William Reid Stakes under lights on a Friday night.

The Sunline Stakes is a race that attracts the classier fillies & mares where level weights give in-form females an advantage over their rivals. Horses may make their way to the Sunline Stakes via a number of races held under similar conditions. The 1400 M Group 3 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse, and the 1400 M Frances Tressady Stakes and 1600 M Matron Stakes held at the Flemington racetrack are among the likely events tackled on the way to the tight Moonee Valley track. The race attracts a big crowd since it is one of the few stakes races to be held at night.

The Sunline Stakes began as a listed race in 1981 and was elevated to Group 3 in 1991. It was once again promoted by the MVRC to Group 2 in 1995. Notable milers to win include Rose O' War in 2000, Sylvaner in 2004, Beautiful Gem in 2005, Candy Vale in 2006 and the P T Hyland trained Zarita in 2010, who made her connections richer by over $1.6 million by the end of her career in 2010.

Sunline remains one of the all time greats when it comes to Australian thoroughbred horse racing. The classy mare won 32 races from 48 starts, finishing her glorious career with a total of A$11,351,607 in prize money, which included major races in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

2012 Sunline Stakes

Lady Lynette jumped straight to the lead and took up the running in what proved to be a controversial race. As they came to the first turn, Lady Lynette appeared to check Spirit Song but went on to consolidate her lead, never being headed and claiming an all the way win. However, Spirit Song's connections protested the result, citing interference at the 1200 metre mark and then again in the home straight. The stewards dismissed the charge of interference in the straight but did agree that the check at the 1200 metre mark was enough to cost Spirit Song the race, with Lady Lynette relegated to second while Raspberries finished third.

2012 Sunline Stakes result

1. Spirit Song
2. Lady Lynette
3. Raspberries

Then came:

4. Zubbaya
5. So Pristine
6. Booklet
7. Hi Belle
8. Seduced