The equestrian world has many champion horses to boast of, and new ones get added every year. Many of these showman horses have found fame in the prestigious Churchill Downs and have risen in estimates of the horse racing community. Now, one more horse is primed to enter the Equestrian Hall of Fame with a remarkable debut performance that was unheard of.

West Sunset took a major leap in the direction of equestrian greatness with its stunning victory in the $200,000 Rags to Riches race on Sunday. This homebred filly from Gary and Mary West was a class apart during the race and took the field like a whirlwind. After the impressive performance, the trainer revealed the secret to her potential.

Unveiling equestrian champion West Sunset’s spirited victory

As the new player on the block, West Sunset did not enjoy the horse racing community’s support outright. Instead, Gin Gin and V V’s Dream had the better odds on the betting table, but that quickly changed as the race progressed. West Sunset completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.31 seconds and left her rivals in her dust. In an interview with Paulick Report, the equestrian rider, Flavien Prat, explained the special character of the horse, saying, “It always felt like I had a lot of horse beneath me,” Prat said. “She was pretty straightforward when she left the gate, and I got her to relax a little bit on the lead. Turning for home I was confident she’d have enough left in the tank to continue strong”.

V V?s Dream also had the best odds going for the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). But fates had other plans, and she faced West Sunset instead. When the latter reached the wire on Sunday, V V?s Dream was nowhere near her. After this victory, her trainer is ready to put West Sunset to a new challenge.

What?s ahead for West Sunset?

West Sunset’s equestrian trainer, Brad Cox, found hope in the filly’s performance yesterday. He said, “Hopefully she’s a filly we can dream about the Kentucky Oaks with“. Her stellar record so far is 2-2-0-0 and $193,000 in career earnings. This suggests that West Sunset has the potential to compete in the prestigious race and even win it. However, Cox is aware that West Sunset would need “some more seasoning” before she can defeat the former champions. Her victory on Sunday became even more remarkable for the equestrian community due to a special tribute.

Read More: After Making America Proud, Equestrian Champion Extend Heartfelt Thanks to ?The Real MVPs? of Pan American Games 2023

Monomoy Girl, who belonged to Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, triumphed in Rags to Riches’ 6?-length score in 2018 before moving on to winning the Kentucky Oaks. Sunday’s race was in honor of this great horse, and West Sunday did justice to her memory with her hot run. Now, she is on the same trajectory as the legendary horse and may outdo her in the future.

WATCH THIS STORY: Mastering Equestrian Anxiety: Five Powerful Mindset Techniques to Overcome Fear in Horse Riding