Racing: Champ faces battle royal in final race

By MIKE DILLON in MELBOURNE

Wayne Hawkes, son of Lonhro's trainer John Hawkes, described the tactical force which will be used to beat Sunline in today's A$3 million Cox Plate as World War 111.

That war was underlined by Hawkes at the Cox Plate press conference at Melbourne's Crown Casino yesterday.

Lonhro beat a slightly less-than-fit Sunline last start in the Caulfield Stakes, but Hawkes admitted his stable was in awe of the champion New Zealand mare.

They know she holds the key to what is the greatest weight-for-age race yet run in Australia.

"The sectionals she runs are unbelievable," said Hawkes.

"She runs fast then runs faster.

"It took Lonhro 300m to wind up to beat her narrowly last start and he could not have gone any further."

Hawkes made no attempt to disguise his belief that all the major contenders had to ride to beat Sunline today.

On the stage, Hawkes even asked a pointed question to Frankie Dettori, rider of European champion Grandera.

"Do you really think you can afford to be six lengths off Sunline at the 600m when she can run home from there in 34 seconds?

"Do you really think you can do that and win?"

"No, I don't," said Dettori. "We all know what Sunline can do."

Dettori should - he took Sunline on in the early stages of the Dubai Mile last year and fried his horse's brains.

But he also took the edge off Sunline, who was narrowly beaten by Jim And Tonic and Fairy King Prawn.

Hawkes hardly took a breath before declaring: "I don't think there is a horse anywhere that can give Sunline a big start and beat her."

Which means Sunline is in for perhaps the most torrid race of her glittering career.

Assertive Lad will almost certainly come across early from a wide barrier and try to lead Sunline, making the mare work harder than is desirable for the first 600m.

From there you can expect Northerly, Lonhro, Defier, Grandera and possibly Bel Esprit to start attacking from the 700m.

The connections of each horse know that if Sunline kicks clear on the home bend the race could be over.

If they come in waves Sunline will have to find new depths in a heart which generally knows no bottom.

Trainer Trevor McKee knows it.

Asked at the press conference if he thought the opposition would "serve it up to Sunline" he said: "They have every other start, why would this be any different."

McKee says Sunline is "right at the top of her game", and he clearly cannot wait for the race which, while it will not define the career of a horse who has already won $13.8 million, is the race everyone will remember if she wins.

There is a lot of pressure on Dettori and Grandera.

Even the Italian's plentiful charm and charisma were slightly subdued yesterday.

It did not help his cause when he was introduced as: "Frankie, who got lost at the Valley [races] last night", a less-than-flattering description of Thursday night's rides.

"I'm pleased the track appears to be racing quite fair and very fast," said Dettori.

"With Sunline in the race, it looks pretty straightforward - it's a matter of let's catch her.

"There are no secrets in this race.

"Everyone has seen each other's videos and we all know what will happen.

"This is the most intriguing race in the world this year.

"Sunline set the benchmark in Hong Kong and Dubai and we have to lift to that.

"Grandera won't come out of this race without scars."

Dettori described Grandera as a horse of extraordinary ability, but without a brain to go with it.

"He's bare talent."

Sunline's rider Greg Childs is feeling the same pressure.

But he says Sunline's enormous talent takes away a lot of pressure.

"The grumpiness is back there - that's how we like to see Sunline."