By MIKE DILLON
It was almost gallows humour that got Trevor McKee through yesterday's horror barrier draw for Saturday's $A2 million Cox Plate.
"At least we won't be boxed in at the start," said McKee as the shocking No13 of 13 barrier draw was declared for champion mare Sunline.
It probably was not the worst draw - No1 may have ended up more disastrous - but for the Southern Hemisphere's toughest weight-for-age race, this is not good.
An hour or so earlier the omens were much better.
Melbourne was lashed with 41mm of rain on Monday night and with a wet forecast for much of the remainder of the week, McKee was happy Sunline might at least have a favourable edge over the likes of Shogun Lodge.
Sunline confirmed that when she handled the wet Moonee Valley surface brilliantly during the Breakfast With The Stars early morning training session.
With raceday rider Greg Childs in the saddle, Sunline galloped solo over 1600m, running the last 600m in 39.1.
"The time was not amazing, but it was just what we wanted," said McKee.
"It was identical work to what she did last year before she won the Cox Plate."
Childs was impressed.
"She felt fabulous - as good as she did last year," he told McKee.
McKee has been in the game too long to spend time agonising over the outside barrier position.
"What will be will be.
"If she'd drawn No1 or No2 she would have been committed to going forward very quickly. From out where we are she can hopefully come over and slot in where we'd like to be.
"We'll probably have plan A and plan B, but beyond that we'll leave it up to Greg when we leg him on."
And McKee is not sweating over the state of the track.
"It's immaterial to her. If it's wet it will slow a couple of the main chances down."
Epsom winner Shogun Lodge is one rival who would favour a firmer track.
The connections of Sky Heights were happy with his barrier.
"He is often a shade slow from the gate, so if he'd drawn in close it was going to be a problem," said rider Glen Boss.
"It is perfect because he'll go forward and put pressure on."
Millions will be bet on the Cox Plate and bookmakers made three changes to Sunline's price in 12 hours.
"We were 5-4 ($2.25) Monday night, into evens $2 when it rained and now we're back out to 5-4 after the barrier draw," said Brian Taylor from Double Bet.
Bookmaker Michael Eskander said he might field Sunline as short as 6-4 on ($1.50) on a slow track.
He may not get that chance. Moonee Valley's Strathayr surface has a huge capacity to absorb water.
"We had 41mm overnight and it still came up only slow rather than heavy for the Breakfast With The Stars," said Moonee Valley racing manager Fred Fox.
"The forecast is for showers through to Thursday then clearing weather and if we get that and only medium luck we should come up with a track no worse than dead [easy] on Saturday."
The Cox Plate field is. -
1 6203 Tie The Knot dmb (7) 58 D Beadman
2 X551 Sky Heights dm (8) 58 G Boss
3 2116 The Message dm (11) 58 S Baster
4 X070 Referral (4) 58 L Cassidy
5 3215 Oliver Twist dm (9) 58 P Payne
6 X124 Skoozi Please m (5) 58 J Cassidy
7 X118 Testa Rossa tmn (2) 56.5 B Prebble
8 3512 Shogun Lodge d (12) 56.5 D Oliver
9 9931 Diatribe tcdm (6) 56.5 C Williams
10 1112 Sunline tcmb (13) 55.5 G Childs
11 3060 Beat The Fade m (10) 54 J Patton
12 6222 Show A Heart mb (1) 48.5 C Munce
13 6613 Fubu (3) 48.5 M Gatt
Racing: McKee not panicking over Sunline's draw
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