By MIKE DILLON
MELBOURNE - You don't get much out of Sunline's part-owner and co-trainer Trevor McKee.
McKee is Sunline's greatest fan, but before Saturday's record-breaking $A2 million Cox Plate victory, he could not bring himself to say she is the best horse he has seen.
"I always believed Mainbrace was the best I have seen race. He won from 1000m to a mile and threequarters, on wet and dry tracks and he never went into the barrier.
"But after this win I say Sunline is better," said the Takanini trainer as he put the presentation rug on Sunline.
The record-equalling, seven-length win made Sunline Australasia's greatest stakearner at $A6,334,266, eclipsing Octagonal's $A5,838,231.
Trevor McKee revealed he has recently had offers to buy the mare from five countries, including one massive offer this week from Dubai.
"I can't say how much it was, but it was an awful lot of money."
It is understood figures around $6 million have previously been refused for the mare. Asked how long he took to repel this latest approach, McKee said: "Two minutes.
"It was tempting, but she simply is not for sale. Twenty years ago it would have been a different story, she probably would have been sold for the first million dollar offer, but I don't need the money these days."
Sunline will now take on the world.
Saturday's win earned her 12 points and took her to joint leader in the Emirates World Championship, which carries a $2 million bonus.
She was not entered for the next leg, the $3 million Hong Kong Cup, being nominated instead for the Hong Kong Mile.
McKee said yesterday he would consider paying the $A12,500 late entry fee for the Cup.
Much depends on the progress of Irish 3-year-old Giant's Causeway, who also has 12 Emirates Championship points. Giant's Causeway will contest next month's US Breeders Cup and Japan Cup and if he gets too far ahead, Sunline will probably stick to the mile if she goes to Hong Kong.
McKee said Sunline's main mission is Dubai in March, which features the world's richest race, the $US6 million Dubai World Cup.
Beyond that McKee is keen for Sunline to look at the Singapore International Cup in May.
Racing: McKee now willing to admit Sunline is the best
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