By MIKE DILLON
The Sunline camp is faced with a dilemma - how to rest a mare who does not enjoy resting.
Sunline arrived back in Melbourne last night from Dubai, the biggest tip for her immediate future being a spell before being prepared for an attempt on a record-equalling third Cox Plate in October.
But the mare who enjoys terrorising her raceday opposition does not enjoy being idle.
The same aggressive attitude which saw her contribute to her own defeat in Saturday night's $US2 million Dubai Duty Free carries over to the champion mare's everyday life.
It is not unknown for her to sulk when being left alone in a spelling paddock.
She much prefers the buzz of stable life to the degree where she does better physically when doing something rather than nothing.
But Sunline has to spell sometime.
"She's peaked a few times this preparation already, it's hard to keep doing it," said co-trainer Stephen McKee yesterday.
"You can keep her threequarters ready and pop races off around here, but not when you're up against true international opposition like she met in Dubai.
"At some point she has to go out for a good rest."
Some consideration has been given to the possibility of Sunline taking on a weight-for-age race at the end of the Sydney autumn carnival provided she came through her long flights and Melbourne quarantine in good shape.
But McKee said last night there was only a slim chance of that happening.
Because of Sunline's attitude to idleness a spell would probably be no more than one month.
"She could come back into the stable and potter around for the winter."
McKee said Sunline was in reasonably good shape when she arrived in Singapore yesterday for the final leg of the flight back to Melbourne.
"She was a bit tired the night of the race, as you'd expect, but she ate up the next night."
For the winner of nine group one races there is irony that Sunline did more for the creation of her greatness in defeat at the weekend than in any of her races.
The international acclaim for her performance under the extreme circumstances was astounding.
In the Northern Hemipshere racing on the speed in dirt races is an advantage because horses are unable to sprint off a dirt surface the same as turf and battle in the closing stages.
In Dubai no one could remember a horse coming from further back than third on the home bend to win a dirt race all season.
But it is rare for a horse to lead and win on the grass.
To sit outside the leader racing fiercely then kick hard as Sunline did and then to be narrowly beaten against the depth of opposition she faced in Dubai is unheard of.
"What an animal, she is so brave," said one of the owners of an English Dubai invitee at an after-race party.
Jim And Tonic's trainer Francois Doumen went as far as to say he thought Sunline was the winner on the night.
Perhaps that may have influenced his decision to almost certainly not chase the Cox Plate in October with Jim And Tonic.
Doumen cited the distance to travel to Australia to take on the Cox as the reason for deciding against it, but Sunline had to travel the same distance to meet Jim And Tonic at the weekend.
The McKees would love an opportunity to meet Jim And Tonic on their home turf.
Robbie Fradd has been sacked as the jockey of Fairy King Prawn following his ride on the horse in the $US2 million Dubai Duty Free.
Trainer Ivan Allan was unhappy with Fradd in December when Fairy King Prawn was second to Sunline.
Racing: Lazing around could be tough for Sunline
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