WELLINGTON - Freak filly Sunline is more than likely to resume racing in Sydney rather than New Zealand next month.
Co-trainer Stephen McKee says the $A150,000 Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm on August 21 is Sunline's likely return race.
As a consequence a New Zealand start for Sunline this spring is unlikely.
It had been hoped by New Zealand racing fans she would resume in the $100,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings on August 28.
"That race is a bit late for us now," said McKee, who trains in partnership with his father Trevor.
"It sort of banks up the rest of her programme. Last year the race was a week or two earlier."
McKee added it is planned for Sunline to tackle the group one $A350,000 George Main Stakes at Randwick in Sydney on September 25.
However, he stressed it was still early days and factors like track conditions could force a re-think.
"We haven't ruled out Hastings al- together.
"It depends on track conditions too. If they ended up having bog tracks over there in Sydney like they are at the moment, then we could stay here."
Sunline is a leading contender for New Zealand Horse of the Year honours which will be announced on August 20.
The 3-year-old filly took her record to 11 wins from 12 starts when she won the $A1 million Doncaster Handicap in Sydney on April 3.
McKee said Sunline has been back in work for about five weeks and was due to have her first serious gallop today. - NZPA
Horse Racing: No near NZ starts for Sunline
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