Racing: Northerly can stop 'people's horse'

Only one word comes from Trevor McKee's mouth when you ask what can stop Sunline ending her career by winning today's A$3 million Cox Plate - Northerly.

It was significant that immediately the press conference at the Crown Casino ended yesterday, Northerly's trainer Fred Kersley walked straight to the other side of the room to shake hands with Trevor and Stephen McKee and to wish them luck.

The two camps have unbelievable respect for each other.

Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper ran a survey of its readers on Thursday asking which they thought was the better horse, Sunline or Northerly.

Remarkably, 71 per cent said Sunline.

Remarkable because Sunline has yet to beat Northerly. It's two-zip to Northerly.

Remarkable also because when was the last time you heard an Australian say a New Zealander was better than an Australian?

Fred Kersley understands.

"Sunline is the people's horse, she's earned that recognition.

"Northerly is only halfway there.

"I fully understand - mind you, none of that matters when the barriers open."

The McKees also know that the racetrack is the only criteria.

"When was the last time you saw Northerly under pressure? Never," said co-trainer Stephen McKee.

Significantly, one of those Northerly defeats of Sunline was in this race last year.

He is a great Moonee Valley horse, has unchartered depths of courage and Kersley is adamant he is a fitter horse than when he won last week's A$2.5 million Caulfield Cup.

At the press conference Kersley defended his decision to back the horse up into trying to complete what would be for most horses an impossible double.

"I know it's unconventional, but I don't see it in that light.

"I'm very comfortable in what I'm asking him to do and he's very well.

Stephen McKee could not wait to have a friendly crack at Kersley, who likes to take the spotlight off Northerly's chances in big races.

"Well, Fred," said McKee, "you said last year Sunline was the gold standard to go by, I guess you're this year's gold standard."

Kersley told the press conference he had nothing but admiration for the decision to retire Sunline at her peak.

"That's such a brave call. The hardest thing in sport is knowing when to give up. Trevor has made that call."

Stephen McKee knows the post-Sunline era will be different.

"Yeah, I'm going to miss her heaps. Sometimes doing the interviews can be a hassle, but during the winters when she's been spelling you wish you were back there doing it.

"Top rugby players who have been in the limelight for so long have trouble stepping away.

"And, if Tiger Woods missed the cut in every tournament for 12 months, no one would talk to him."

The Cox Plate is one of the very few races the McKees watch from the grandstand. Mostly they watch on a television monitor, because quite often you see more of the action.

"But Dad and I always watch this race from the trainers' stand."

Both McKees seemed relatively relaxed yesterday, but they said today will be different.

"You always get worked up from about two hours before she races and particularly when she steps out onto the track," said Stephen McKee.

Trevor McKee said he rejected a substantial United States offer for Sunline midweek.

"It was for plenty, but they wanted the deal to include this race for them and I've always said we would never do that.

"I said talk to me next week after the Cox Plate."