Six weeks after the scary Southern Cross contest under Mark Sutherland, Sunera had regular partner Felix Coetzee back in the saddle. She swept to a record-breaking victory in the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint (WFA) over Scottsville's 1200m, bettering the 1980 record by .02 seconds.
The betting indicated a two-way affair with Sunera at 6/10 and Sea Shore - who had run her to a short-head in Kenilworth's 1000m Southern Cross Stakes - on offer at 2/1 in a field of
eleven. At the half-way mark, Sea Shore and Dolphin Ditty, who had been runner-up in the race twelve months earlier, were out in front but Felix Coetzee was biding his time on the favourite. When he called on her for her effort inside the final two hundred metres, Sunera soon put the issue beyond doubt as she cruised to the front from Sea Shore and a tiring Dolphin Ditty to win unextended by the best part of two lengths. Bold West came through late to get within a neck of second placed Sea Shore.
SUNERA (GB) (1982f, Radetzky – Sister Angelica by Song). Described by Timeform as a lengthy filly, and poor walker and mover, Sunera showed highclass form at 2 in the UK, winning three times and placing twice from six starts, earning a Timeform rating 106. Reportedly affected by sesamoid problems (she showed a tendency throughout her career to veer left when under pressure, which lost her a race at 2 through disqualification), Sunera was bought on spec by bloodstock agent Tony Riley for 40.000 pounds. Riley found a willing buyer in Des Scott, in whose colours Sunera made her SA debut in October, trained by Terrance Millard. She was technically still a 3yo, although officially four in SA-terms. Within the space of 2 months Sunera won five races, which readied her for the big league. She really starred during the Natal winter season, winning the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, Gr1 Natal Flying Championship and Gr2 Gilbey’s Stakes (a race elevated to Gr1 status a year later). Des Scott sold Sunera for R300 000 to the Ross & Gardiner partnership after her win Cape Merchants and she retired after her Flying Championship victory. She won 11 South African races in the space of less than twelve months, and was voted Champion Sprinter for the season. Reportedly covered by Summerhill sire Home Guard (USA), she died of colic shortly after coming off the track. Sunera’s imported half-sister Ashirwaad (Caliban) had better luck at stud – she became the dam of multiple Gr2 winner Something Else, and of Gr1 placed Best Mate.
Legacy: Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, Gr1 Natal Flying Championship; SA Champion Sprinter
Six weeks after the scary Southern Cross contest under Mark Sutherland, Sunera had regular partner Felix Coetzee back in the saddle. She swept to a record-breaking victory in the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint (WFA) over Scottsville's 1200m, bettering the 1980 record by .02 seconds.
eleven. At the half-way mark, Sea Shore and Dolphin Ditty, who had been runner-up in the race twelve months earlier, were out in front but Felix Coetzee was biding his time on the favourite. When he called on her for her effort inside the final two hundred metres, Sunera soon put the issue beyond doubt as she cruised to the front from Sea Shore and a tiring Dolphin Ditty to win unextended by the best part of two lengths. Bold West came through late to get within a neck of second placed Sea Shore.
