By MIKE DILLON
It looks slightly better than an even-money bet Sunline will not be re-handicapped for the $A2.5 million Doncaster followiong her $A500,000 Coolmore Classic win on Saturday.
Co-trainer Stephen McKee warned the mare may not take on the Doncaster, which she won last year, if a severe re-handicap was imposed.
Chief Sydney handicapper Mark Webby said yesterday that he will wait until the end of the week, but indicated he was probably leaning slightly towards not increasing Sunline's already tough 57.5kg Doncaster weight.
"When I framed the handicap I was very happy that Sunline's weight was fair," he said.
"I have been mindful all along of the record of mares in the race, which is pretty ordinary.
"I have given her 2kg above weight-for-age and I'm mindful that she was beaten in the Epsom Handicap in the spring carrying only 1kg above weight-for-age.
"Against that, she has since taken herself to a level beyond champion mares like Emancipation and she does not seem to have too many off days.
"Another factor is, she meets Pace Invader in the Doncaster 1kg worse off than she did yesterday [when she carried 60kg] and Pace Invader should certainly have finished second to her."
Webby has only until Friday to change the Doncaster weights and indicated he might be guided by whether or not Sunline runs in Saturday's $A400,000 George Ryder Stakes. Because that race is weight-for-age, Webby would be unable to subsequently re-handicap her, but could pre-empt a victory there with his opportunity to change her Doncaster weight.
"At the moment I'm in two minds. The 1600m at Randwick is a lot different to 1500m at Rosehill against only mares.
"I'll watch a few more videos before I decide. If I give her anything at all it won't be more than 1kg."
Stephen McKee said yesterday Sunline has come through her tough effort of carrying a crushing 60kg in remarkable style.
"You wouldn't know she's even had a race, which is incredible really. It was a hard race for her.
"But the first-up Warwick Farm win was tough on her too, and she came through it in the same way."
Trevor McKee will wait until today or tomorrow to see if Sunline needs a further race before the Doncaster before deciding to run in Saturday's George Ryder Stakes.
"If she gets a re-handicap she will definitely run because we will be concentrating on the weight-for-age races and giving the Doncaster a miss."
Racing: Severe Doncaster re-handicap appears unlikely
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