Breathless Australian commentators should check their timing devices, says CLAIRE BIRD.
SYDNEY - Sunline is a great horse but she can't be freakish all the time.
Claire Bird, strapper of the great New Zealand mare, was surprised yesterday by Australian media reports that Sunline had clocked astounding times in a Sydney track gallop on Tuesday, her first serious hit-out since returning from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
The mare is preparing for Saturday's group-one $A400,000 weight-for-age All-Aged Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
The Sydney Morning Herald, under a headline "Sunline has track men gasping" reported that the world's premier female galloper had clocked 58.9sec for 1000m on a dirt track, reeling off the last 600m and 200m splits of 35.5sec and 12.2sec respectively.
The newspaper quoted veteran trackman Mick Fagan as saying: "I can't remember too many horses breaking a minute for 1000m in a track gallop on the dirt, in fact I think she's the only one. It was simply outstanding work."
Bird, who was riding Sunline, had a slightly different version.
"They got it a little bit wrong. They said under a minute for the thousand and I'm pretty sure she didn't. I know her pretty well," said Bird.
"She went very, very well, I was very impressed with how she had recovered from the travel and everything. But I think ... they may need new clocks."
Nevertheless, Sunline has this week enhanced her reputation as a flawless traveller, settling easily into her Sydney stables after two weeks of quarantine in Melbourne.
"She's been away for a while but she thrives on it," Bird said.
"She's eating up, put on a heap of weight and is looking good. So there's nothing to complain about."
Most of the quality horses have been scared off by Sunline's entry this Saturday, leaving a list of just nine other nominees. Only Adam and Go Flash Go are likely to provide any resistance to a Sunline victory.
The other nominees are Doncaster Handicap contenders Dottoressa, El Mirada, Final Fantasy and Spying; three-year-olds Make Me A Miracle and Neptune's Journey and New Zealander Mabuz.
Acceptances close today, with Australian Jockey Club racing manager Colin Tuck expecting just Mabuz to miss the acceptances as he was already accepted for the Rowley Mile today at Hawkesbury.
"If we can get a field of eight or nine, that is ideal," Tuck said.
- NZPA
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