She's the undisputed champion in Australasia, now Sunline is heading for the world stage. MIKE DILLON follows her build-up in Dubai.
DUBAI - Trevor McKee has made some huge sacrifices for Sunline and he's at it again in Dubai.
He's getting out of bed, bleary-eyed, at 3 am to walk the champion New Zealand mare at 4 am before Dubai's fierce heat kicks in.
McKee was given special permission to switch from the 9.30 am time slot on the training track at which time, for quarantine reasons, the New Zealander and the Australian visitor to the Dubai World Cup meeting, Bomber Bill, are required to work in isolation.
Yesterday morning at 4.08 Sunline and strapper Claire Bird had their first gallop since leaving New Zealand at a time when most in Dubai were still hours away from even thinking about getting out of bed.
McKee said Sunline is close enough to her best, fitness ready, and allowed the mare to work a quiet 800m, running her last 600m, hard held, in a comfortable 40s.
"She's pretty close to where I want her," said McKee after the gallop.
"She's actually doing more here than you think because it's an 800m walk from her quarantine compound to the track and to access the grass track she steps onto the dirt track at the 1200m and trots and canters around to the entrance to the grass which is past the winning post.
"She's done plenty even before she starts working."
McKee said Sunline will be doing almost exactly the same work tomorrow morning.
"She's 100 per cent within herself and it's just a matter of topping her off now."
To annoy McKee, yesterday morning in Dubai was much more mild than usual, the temperature barely touching 20 degrees at 9.30 am.
Being a professional clocker of gallops at Nad Al Sheba is not a job you would crave.
On Monday night, Dubai World Cup runner Captain Steve, third to Tiznow and Giant's Causeway in the Breeders Cup Classic, galloped under lights on the dirt track at 8.
The clocker then needed to be out of bed with Trevor McKee yesterday morning to catch Sunline.
Then to follow up, you had to clock the international and local horses through to 10.15 am and be back under lights last night to take in Dubai Cup runners Aristotle and Kingsalsa galloping on the dirt at 8 pm.
Singapore-trained Aristotle finished 3rd last start to Silvano and Caitano in the Singapore Cup and Kingsalsa is trained in France by Andre Fabre.
The all-important barrier draws for all events for Saturday night's world richest programme will be completed in Dubai this morning.
With the all-powerful Godolphin stable having four runners against Sunline in the $US2million Dubai Duty Free, and therefore the ability to team ride, an inside barrier draw will be crucial for Sunline.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Sunline looks likely to have 15 opponents from nine different countries. On Timeform ratings she should win if she runs to her best form - her rating from 129 is ahead of the next-highest rated Fairy King Prawn, and given her 1.3kg sex allowance on Saturday that gives her a big advantage.
Other well-rated horses are 1999 Hong Kong Cup winner Jim And Tonic (124) and last year's winner Rhythm Band (119).
Racing: Champ fit, ready for Dubai
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