SYDNEY - A United States racing campaign has been put on hold for champion mare Sunline, with co-trainer Stephen McKee confirming the 4-year-old will return to Australia to defend her Cox Plate crown in October.
"To go to the States you have to plan well in advance," said McKee.
"If she was going up there she would have to go by mid-May. We may look at going there next autumn but at this point the Cox Plate is our main aim.
"She is unbeaten at Moonee Valley and it is hard to turn down money like that on your back doorstep."
Last year the Cox Plate carried stakemoney of $A1.8 million with the winner's purse $A1.07 million.
Sunline, favourite to be named Australasian Horse of the Year in August, dominated the Sydney autumn carnival, winning the group one Coolmore Classic and All-Aged Stakes and the group two Apollo Stakes. She narrowly missed winning the $A2.5 million Doncaster Handicap under 57.5kg when runner-up to Over.
McKee said Sunline would follow a similar path to her Cox Plate success last year with her campaign likely to start in Sydney in September.
However, McKee ruled out a second attempt at the Hong Kong International Cup in December and an assault on the world's richest race, the Dubai World Cup, in March.
"Dubai just doesn't seem an ideal race for her," he said.
"I would like to give her a chance to redeem herself in Hong Kong but I don't think that will be a real option this time.
"I think setting her for some of the top fillies' and mares' races in the United States next autumn is the most appealing prospect."
Racing: Cox confirmed as Sunline's target
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