By MIKE DILLON
Greg Childs is adamant there was no team riding to beat Sunline in Saturday's $A2.5 million Doncaster Handicap in Sydney.
But if you have half an hour to spare and don't mind a bit of language, call Childs and ask him his opinion of Australian jockey Jim Byrne, the rider of Adam, who almost certainly cost Sunline victory.
The fuel Sunline needed to bridge the gap to neck winner Over was used when Childs had to niggle the champion Kiwi mare to prevent Adam and Byrne crossing them between the 1000m and 700m.
Childs is furious Byrne tried such a tactic, not only because it helped bring Sunline undone, but because it also slaughtered Adam's chances, who was a beaten horse at the 700m and finished 14th.
"That was just dumb," said Childs with a mixture of anger and incredulity.
"How he thought I'd let him get across in front of me when I was on the favourite is beyond me.
"It was an error of judgment on his part and a very dumb thing to do."
But Childs was quick to dispel any suggestion of riders ganging up on Sunline.
"Contrary to what a lot of people might think, riders are not being paid to go out and deliberately beat other horses.
"Anyway, people could not have paid this rider enough money because it was a $A2.5 million race and Adam was in the market [one of the fancied runners].
"It came down to someone being an idiot on the day."
That apart, Childs said Sunline was in perfect shape on the day.
"She felt good in her preliminary, she was very settled at the start and she flew the gates.
"In running I believed she could do the job, even after the Adam incident."
The tantalising factor was that with 350m left, Sunline clearly had the opposition beaten to pieces - except for Over, carrying 6kg less. The rest dropped five lengths behind.
It looked as though Sunline might contain Over, but the weight and the fact Over had enjoyed a more comfortable passage, made the difference.
"When the other horse drew alongside I felt Sunline surge again and I thought "maybe", but in the dying stages she started to wilt."
Childs felt it was the effort of a champion.
"Over is a very good horse. Three starts earlier he'd finished second to Fairway at Warwick Farm and Fairway came out and won the Derby two hours before the Doncaster."
Sunline was due to be spelled after the Doncaster, but has come through the race so well she will back up in either the $A400,000 All-Aged Stakes (1600m) next Saturday or the 2000m $A750,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes the following weekend.
"We'll make up our mind late this week," said co-trainer Stephen McKee.
McKee said backing up in a week would be no problem.
"But Greg feels she is now ready for the 2000m of the Queen Elizabeth."
Childs thinks the 2000m might almost be an advantage.
"She will see the distance right out, no question.
"Provided Jim Byrne isn't riding in the race."
Racing: 'Dumb' ride may have cost mare
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