Sunny’s $50K star power

• Ringarooma owned and Lietinna trained three-year-old Sunny Sanz cruised to victory on Sunday evening winning the $50,000 Roberts Rural Supplies Globe Derby.
Image by Stacey Lear.

By Taylor Clyne
June 12, 2019

As predicted the supremely talented local three-year-old Sunny Sanz proved that the sky is the limit after breezing to victory on Sunday night winning the $50,000 Roberts Rural Supplies Globe Derby.
Held at the Mowbray race course driver John Walters was able to hold his early lead position from start to finish powering home to win by a cool 11 metres.
The overwhelming excitement of trainer Kent Rattray and Ringarooma owners Nathan and Sandra Bennett who were barracking from the sidelines was apparent.
“There was a fair bit of noise from the side of the track,” Kent laughed.
“We’re absolutely over the moon about the win. Nathan and Sandra have spent a lot of time and money in getting him back on the track after he injured his suspensory tendon last year.
“At one stage the vet was coming out every fortnight to administer shockwave and stem cell treatment to repair the injury,” he said.
After nine months on the mend and four months back in work, a win like this makes it all worthwhile.
“He had a difficult race in last week’s heat locking wheels on the cart, so driver Johnny took him to the front early this week to minimise risk and go forward,” Kent said.
“He found it quite easy and I believe made a fast time with the win.”
The story of Sunny Sanz is part of a fifteen-year relationship between Kent and Nathan; six years ago, Nathan decided to attend a dispersal horse sale on the mainland to begin his own breeding program.
“Nathan went to the sale with one horse in mind and purchased her, but another finer filly caught his eye as he was leaving. He put a bid on the filly for $3,000 and brought them both home.”
The fine filly was Soho Summer, her first foal was Sunny Sanz.
“Nathan’s done a really great job, he got foals out of both the mares and has some more lovely horses coming through,” Kent said.
Looking to the future Sunny Sanz will be heading home to Ringarooma for a couple of weeks rest in the paddock before beginning work for races later in the year.
“He’s done a lot in a short time with six wins from seven starts. If we keep looking after him right, he will have a big future ahead,” Kent said.