Post by ripley on Aug 30, 2017 13:28:46 GMT -6
May Week Four was a prolific week even in the absence of the largest three year old races. May Week Four saw the final race for a horse whose career can only be described as tremendous. Sun King, a brawny son of Native Flame and El Sol del Mar, marched to victory in the Summer Cup Grade One Dirt with magnificent ease, putting a bow on his succession of his latest three sterling victories. In 58 starts, Sun King won 32 races, finished second 23 times and third thrice. He never put up a lousy effort, even in spite of an injury that split his four year old season in half, and never finished out of the money once.
It could possibly be said that Sun King was at his best at the age of five, certainly he dominated even in the first half of the season with 5 HOTY victories to his credit. He became a bigger, stronger version of his already indomitable self. With a career that spanned from Y14-Y17, Sun King has dominated headlines from the get-go. He came out flying even in the shadow his own stable-mate and half-brother Mastermind. He culminated his juvenile season with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint and took down the Juvenile of the Year and Two Year Old Colt of the Year title.
At three, Sun King won the the Red Mile series and was named Overall Mile Champion on his to Colt of the Year and Three Year Old Colt titles. He won his second Breeders' Cup race in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, stretching his versatility from six to eight furlongs.
The chestnut horse's career was hall-marked by his fortitude, power and supremacy at a range of distances. At four, the horse ground out victories in the Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile, Spring Dawn Treader Cup (his first out of two), the President Cup, the New Hampshire Sweep Classic (at ten furlongs), the Hockessen Stakes, and the Damascus Stakes (at seven furlongs). All of this happened when his connections felt he wasn't his usual powerful self, a testament to the horse's thunderous will power.
At five, Sun King started his season with a third in the Dubai World Sprint, but that was his worst effort of the season. He was only getting warmed up. The powerful stallion took his second DTC win in the Spring Dawn Treader Cup, a win in The Wire Finish Cup Dirt, the GHF Stable Faceoff Grade One and Two, the British Colombia Derby, and culminated his fine career with a win in the ten furlong Summer Cup Grade One Dirt.
Against Everyday Smile and the venerable Ultimate Revenge, Sun King had everything his own way in the final effort. He paced himself through the first mile, clipping off his naturally fast fractions without much effort and turned it on once he entered the homestretch. In a throwback to his blistering sprint speed, Sun King pulled away to win by six lengths in what was a celebratory run. He won wrapped up at the wire, his ears pricked as if it were just another walk in the park.
"It really was a tremendous performance," Ripley Marsh, his owner and trainer stated that same evening, her voice still filled with awe. "No one understands how hard it is to maintain a horse of this caliber. Sun King made it easy for us. He's a big horse, but he takes care of himself. He's aged mentally, becoming malleable, less willful. That mindset really shows this season. If we didn't have breedings lined up to him in Year Seventeen already, I would be tempted to keep him running for a title later in the year. Unfortunately, we put off those breedings to this year so we'll have to just think of what might have been.
I would like to say he deserves retirement, but I think he'll miss it. He loves to run, loves the competition. It'll be different for all of us to turn him out in the pasture, only ride him around the paths to keep him occupied and fit for the breeding season."
Valkyrie co-owner Mae Suhail, when asked about Sun King's feats and the excitement over the farm's relations: "There's so much to respect about a horse that's done the things that Sun King has done, even if it caused the rest of us grief at times. There's so much to be excited about as far as what his potential may have unlocked. It makes you look at your own horses and have renewed hope in them simply for being related to such an extraordinary animal. He's got all the makings of a great sire, and I'm sure we'll all be terrorized by his children in no time!"
In total, Sun King won 25 HOTY races in his four year career. He will head to his next career with his head held high with a spot all but certain in the Hall Of Fame alongside his dam, El Sol del Mar, and half-siblings Eternal Phantom and Mastermind.
SUN KING'S CAREER RESULTS:
Year Thirteen
1st in TW Appulium Prospect -Aug. Week 3
1st in TW Latourre Prospect Race Three - Mar. Week 4
2nd in TW Cynosure Prospect - Nov. Week 3
3rd in GHF's Next Top Racehorse Race Six - June Week 1
4th in GHF's Next Top Racehorse Race Ten - Oct. Week 1
Year Fourteen
1st in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint* - Dec. Week 4 [6F/D/G5+]
1st in TW Arizona Breeders' Futurity* - Dec. Week 3 [7.5F/D/G5+]
1st in TW Fall Sales Stakes - Nov. Week 1 [6F/D/G5+]
1st in Eagle Cup* - Sept Week 4 [6F/D/G5+]
1st in the A Lot To Live Up To Juvenile Dirt* - Sept Week 3 [10F/D/G5+]
1st in Orchid Cup Colts* - July Week 3 [7F/D/G5+]
1st in TW Norfolk Stakes* - June Week 3 [7.5F/D/G5+]
1st in TW Follow The Hoofprints Juvenile Dirt Mile* - May Week 2 [8F/D/G5+]
1st in TW Prince Henry Stakes* - Mar. Week 3 [8.5F/D/G5+]
1st in Legacy Dirt Stakes* - Jan. Week 3 [10F/D/M]
2nd in August Juvenile Dirt Faceoff - August Week 2 [8F/D/G5+]
2nd in Lucky Day Futurity* - August Week 1 [8F/D/G5+]
2nd in TW Frizette Stakes* - June Week 4 [6F/D/O]
2nd in TW Cashcall Futurity* - Apr. Week 4 [8F/D/O]
2nd in Magic Millions Colts Dirt Sprint* - Apr. Week 1 [6F/D/O]
2nd in TW New Mexico Classic Cup Juvenile* - Feb. Week 3 [8F/D/O]
2nd in TW Cup and Saucer Stakes - Jan Week 1 [8F/D/M]
Year Fifteen
1st in Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile* - Dec Week 4 [8F/D]
1st in End of Year Dirt Sprint - Dec Week 3 [6F/D]
1st in Bucolic Derby - Nov Week 2 [7F/D]
1st in TW Red Mile* - Nov Week 1 [8F/D]
1st in Superstitious Derby - Oct Week 3 [8F/D]
1st in TW Easy Goer Red Mile* - Aug Week 1 [8F/D]
1st in Star Party* - July Week 2 [7F/D]
1st in TW Dr. Fager Red Mile* - June Week 4 [8F/D]
1st in Boy's Party* - June Week 3 [6F/D]
1st in BSD Swale Stakes* - Apr Week 3 [7F/D]
1st in TW Holy Bull Stakes* - Mar Week 4 [8.5F/D]
2nd in Speedway Stakes* - Oct Week 3 [7F/D]
2nd in TW Cigar Red Mile* - Sept Week 1 [8F/D]
2nd in Red Wine Sprint* - Aug Week 3 [6F/D]
2nd in Quick Cup* - May Week 3 [7F/D]
2nd in Santa Anita Derby* - Apr. Week 2 [9F/D]
2nd in Wood Memorial Stakes* - Mar Week 1 [9F/D]
3rd in TW Beautifulla Derby - Feb Week 4 [8F/D]
Year Sixteen
1st in TW Damascus Stakes* - Dec Wk 1 [7F/D]
1st in BSD Hockessen Stakes* - June Wk 3 [9F/D]
1st in BSD New Hampshire Sweep Classic* - May Wk 4 [10F/D]
1st in GHF President Cup* - Mar Wk 3 [8F/D]
1st in TW Spring Dawn Treader Cup* - Feb Wk 2 [9F/D]
1st in GHF Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile* - Jan Wk 4 [8F/D]
2nd in Breeders Cup Dirt Sprint* - Dec Wk 4 [6F/D]
2nd in BSD Salvator Mile Stakes* - Aug Wk 3 [8F/D]
2nd in TW Strub Stakes* - Aug Wk 1 [7F/D]
2nd in TW Autumn Dawn Treader Cup* - July Wk 2 [9F/D]
2nd in TW Phoenix Gold Cup* - June Wk 4 [6F/D]
2nd in GHF Stable Face Off G3, 2, 1 Dirt* - Mar Wk 5 [9F/D]
2nd in GHF Sweet Stalker Mem. Stakes* - Mar Wk 1 [10F/D]
2nd in TW Dubai World Sprint* - Jan Wk 2 [6F/S]
3rd in TW Summer Dawn Treader Cup* - May Wk 3 [9F/D]
Year Seventeen
1st in GHF Summer Cup Grade One Dirt* - May Wk 4 [10F/D]
1st in TW British Colombia Derby* - May Wk 1 [9F/D]
1st in GHF Stable Faceoff Grade 2,1 Dirt* - Mar Wk 5 [9F/D]
1st in TW Finish Cup Dirt* - Mar Wk 2 [9F/D]
1st in TW Spring Dawn Treader Cup* - Feb Wk 2 [9F/D]
2nd in TW Metropolitan Handicap* - Mar Wk 3 [8F/D]
2nd in GHF Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile* - Jan Wk 4 [8F/D]
3rd in TW Dubai World Sprint* - Jan Wk 2 [7F/S]
Titles Won:
Y14 Juvenile Of The Year
Y14 Best Two Year Old Colt
Y15 Dirt Mile Champion
Y15 Overall Mile Champion
Y15 Best 3yo Colt
Y15 Colt Of The Year
