NEWS
Tie the Knot, Sunline win during Golden Slipper Festival
Posted: Monday, April 03, 2000
Tie the Knot clinched champion status after claiming his ninth Group 1 victory in the Ranvet Stakes (Aus-G1) on the second day of the Sydney Turf Club's Golden Slipper Festival Saturday at Rosehill Gardens.
Sunline, highweighted on the Australian Free Handicap last year, also registered a powerful victory, carrying 132 pounds during her victory in the Coolmore Classic (Aus-G1).
In the 2,000-meter Ranvet, Tie the Knot and jockey R. S. "Shane" Dye jumped out quickly from the gate and tracked Showella in the early stages. After Arena took the lead into the stretch, Tie the Knot came on the outside to win by a short neck, with Showella another 1 ¼ lengths back in third. Time over the good turf was 2:05.94.
Trained by Guy Walter, Tie the Knot, a six-year-old gelding by Nassipour out of Whisked, by Whiskey Road, has won 15-of-42 career starts.
In the 1,500-meter Coolmore Classic, jockey Greg Childs guided Sunline to her 16th victory in 22 career starts for trainer and co-owner Trevor McKee. The five-year-old mare by Desert Sun (GB) won by 1 ¼ lengths over Beat The Fade, with Noicir another neck back in third. Sunline's time was 1:28.81.
Co-owner Thayne Green mentioned after the race that Sunline may be headed for North America.
"It's something we are just thinking about," he said. "But definitely, Sunline is not for sale. She'll never be sold."—Delamere Usher
