Happy Sunrise making Inter-Dominion bid
NZPA-AAP Brisbane The top Sydney reinsman, Brian Hancock, has landed the drive on exciting former New' Zealand pacer, Happy Sunrise, in the horse’s attempt to become the first Queensland horse to win an InterDominion championship. Happy Sunrise (11-8) made his Queensland debut for owner, Tony Price, at Albion Park on Wednesday night and returned a sensational last to first five metre win in class record time over fellow Inter-Dominion contender, Toolara Dream.
The five-year-old Steven Stock-Happy Gift gelding ran the 2100 m in 2min 35.65, a mile rate of Imin 59.25.
Happy Sunrise was timed to run his last mile in Imin 58.65, the last 800 m in 575, running the first 400 m of the final half in 27.95.
Happy Sunrise leaves for Melbourne next week, racing there for about four weeks before heading to Sydney for the Harold Park InterDominions in March.
“There is heaps of improvement in him still,” Price, who departed with a six figure sum to buy the gelding, said.
“I think he will win a big race in Melbourne before the InterDominions.” Price said Brian Hancock would drive Happy Sunrise in all his southern races, while his brother, Richard Hancock will
handle another expensive Price purchase, the talented mare, Hyperstat. Wednesday night’s winning driver, Neil Scott, was impressed with Happy Sunrise’s acceleration.
“He hung on the turns but got past Toolara Dream so easily he pricked his ears and started to look around,” Scott said. “He has unbelievable acceleration.”
Happy Sunrise has now won 11 of his 17 starts. He made an immediate impression on keen judges with a fast finishing three metre second to star West Australian pacer,. Village Kid, in his linin 57.7 s victory in the Miracle Mile in late November in his Australian debut.
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Press, 23 January 1988, Page 35
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299Happy Sunrise making Inter-Dominion bid Press, 23 January 1988, Page 35
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