When you find the positive in a negative you know you're halfway out of jail.
The McKees are already down the jail path over Sunline's shock defeat in the $A250,000 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
They see the fact Sunline had a tough race fighting a desperate battle with eventual winner Fairway as just what they were looking for heading to the $A2 million Cox Plate.
A win and a hard race would have been perfect, but they got the most important factor right.
"We're happy with the run," said Stephen McKee yesterday.
"You couldn't be unhappy with it."
If Sunline has a perfect racing scenario it is to put a break on the opposition on the home turn and pour white hot pressure on them.
She could not sneak a break on them in Saturday's badly rain-affected Flemington footing and, worse, the horse to beat was in front of her when she challenged.
Fairway reversed the pressure role the champion Takanini mare generally applies.
"The rain on the day made it similar footing to the Memsie Stakes and she can't accelerate the same in that sort of footing.
"But it was a good hard run, which she needed going into the Cox Plate. It was a very similar run to when she finished fourth in the Epsom Handicap last year, three weeks before she came out and won the Cox Plate.
"This is also three weeks to the big race. And don't forget she was beaten by a triple crown Derby winner yesterday."
One of the first people trainer Colin Jillings ran into after producing sensational first-up juvenile winner Centennial at Ellerslie was commentator Keith Haub.
"The last time I saw that done was 18 years ago," Haub shot at Jillings.
"And it was in the same race."
Haub was referring to his own little champ McGinty, who Jillings produced to win the same race in his debut in 1982.
It is a long way to go for Centennial to be as good as McGinty, but on Saturday's performance there should be a lot of money in the bank by the end of next season.
Temperament should not be a problem for the Centaine filly.
"Did you see her with all those children after the race, she just stood there like a little lamb," enthused Jillings about his first juvenile runner this season.
Watch this space - he says he has another one to produce shortly.
***
No disrespect to Faiross, in fact good on him, but have our handicappers ever been worse than right now.
The answer is no.
Faiross's form has not been too bad, but the are he is eight years old; was having his 96th start and three of his seven wins have been on heavy footing.
We have some terrific young talent in New Zealand, but the same cannot be said of the older staying horses.
One who is going to boost those ranks is Likely Story, who justified his joint favouritism to win Saturday.
Co-trainer Frank Ritchie is not going back on his word to spell Likely Story.
"We held him together for this race, but he's getting a bit tired. He's come a long way in his first race preparation."
***
Smart effort by Biennale to win at Ellerslie.
From an outside barrier the mare covered some extra ground and looked no hope when she was so wide on the home bend.
But she put her head down and bulldogged past Sharif.
Biennale will win more. So will King Keitel, who took the last.
Racing: Shock defeat should help Kiwi champ
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