Straight Talk

November 14, 2008

Sad end for a promising horse

words by STEPHEN HOWELL

THE DARK SIDE OF RACING

photography by SLATTERY MEDIA GROUP

Just over a week ago Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton questioned claims that his promising sprinter Sunburnt Land, winner of eight races, could be considered unlucky. Unlucky is no longer a strong enough word - Sunburnt Land has been killed by lightning at Romsey, just six days after the gelding finished third in a Group 1 race at Flemington.

The sky appeared the limit for the five-year-old; thenfrom the heavens on Friday came the fatal blow during a storm that swept his spelling paddock, prompting owner-breeder David Moodie to say: "It goes to show how hard this game is for everyone."

Ellerton said the homebred Sunburnt Land (Scenic (Ire)-Razor Blade, by Blazing Sword) had untapped potential. "I'd like to think he had his best days in front of him," he said.

Ellerton sent Sunburnt Land for a spell after he ran third to Swick in the Patinack Classic (1200m) last Saturday. That start followed an unlucky third in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes to Hot Danish over the same course the previous week.

Between those runs Ellerton said Sunburnt Land's record made it difficult to say he was an unlucky horse, but he admitted things had gone pear-shaped on more than one occasion. This is what the trainer said: "He missed last autumn because he had an entrapped epiglottis, which required laser surgery (to remove a membrane that obstructed his breathing). He was ready to race and in his second jumpout in the autumn, he's made a noise, so we scoped him.

"He had the surgery, had two weeks in the stable locked up, had two weeks on the treadmill and he had five weeks back to the races, on a Sunday at Sandown. (He won on May 4) then two weeks later, he won the Straight Six here (at Flemington).

"We said, 'Let's target the Bobbie Lewis (at Flemington on September 6).' That's when things sort of went pear-shaped."Sunburnt Land didn't make the field for that Group 3 sprint or for the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 13. He put up a mammoth performance to win a Welter at Caulfield on the September 20 to get him in the Gilgai Stakes, a Group 2 sprint up the Flemington straight, on October 4, but was scratched at the barrier.

"In the Gilgai, he drew one. He'd been in there too long and he ... he has got restless in the gate before, but never ever showed any signs of wanting to burrow under, but that's what he did. (He said), 'I want to get out,' so he burrowed under. He's so big and strong, he just doesn't know his own strength."After the Gilgai fiasco, Sunburnt Land won a Group 2 sprint over 1100 metres on Caulfield Cup day and was well-fancied in the Salinger.

"He bombed the start and Chris (Symons, the jockey) pulled the wrong rein and went to the extreme outside," Ellerton said. "He drew five, it was Chris' call and he went straight hard up on the outside fence and the race was over before he got out."Sunburnt Land had eight wins from 18 starts and earned almost $380,000. Moodie and Ellerton had been looking at the autumn sprint treble in Melbourne, the Lightning Stakes, the Oakleigh Plate and the Newmarket Handicap, all Group 1 races.

Razor Blade produced a filly by Exceed And Excel in August last year, and has just had a colt by Anabaa. She has gone back to Exceed And Excel. The breed goes on.

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