Champion Sunline has arrived and settled in Melbourne to the complete satisfaction of trainer Trevor McKee for her 6-year-old debut against Australia's glamour sprinter, Falvelon, at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Not much was asked in trackwork yesterday of the nearly $10 million winner, barely 24 hours after she arrivedat her Melbourne quarters.
"Just a bit of pacework," said McKee from Flemington, amused by a statement from regular rider Greg Childs that Sunline seemed in great nick and in one of her usual grumpy moods.
"She'll bowl along a bit more tomorrow [today] over about 1000m and be allowed to stretch out in the straight."
In Melbourne markets Sunline was yesterday quoted a $A2.50 favourite for the Manikato Stakes, a group-one 1200m she won handsomely fresh-up last year. Falvelon is second favourite at $A3.
The only other probable runner at less than double-figure odds was the group-one Goodwood Handicap winner Keeper.
McKee admitted that the Manikato field may be stronger than last year, though not by a great deal.
Childs's only qualms are that Sunline has a long campaign, (including an attempt at a Cox Plate hat-trick) ahead of her, is a year older and is up against Australia's champion sprinter.
The probability of Moonee Valley's being slow would be more in favour of Sunline than the Australian speedsters, McKee said.
"That's the beauty of Sunline. Her class and power enables her to perform in any going."
Moonee Valley was said to be on the worse side of dead on Tuesday when Falvelon worked out there, running his last 800m in a comfortable 54.
If Falvelon's trainer can be believed, the Hong Kong Sprint and Doomben 10,000 winner of last season is the "best he's ever been" for his showdown with Sunline.
The only doubt in trainer Danny Bougoure's mind is that Falvelon is now a 5-year-old stallion.
"So long as he's not thinking of other things, we should be all right," Bougoure told Melbourne racing writers.
Trevor McKee would like to think that Falvelon proves a thorough gentleman and allows ladies - Sunline in particular - to go first.
