By MIKE DILLON
Sunline will almost certainly start in the $A400,000 All Aged Stakes in Sydney on Saturday week.
The only hitch is the slight chance that a Melbourne-Sydney flight this week would not be available.
The McKee stable is delighted with the way Sunline has progressed in quarantine in Melbourne since returning from the Dubai World Cup.
"We took a blood off her and the results looked beautiful," said Stephen McKee yesterday.
"In fact, for her it was brilliant because she doesn't always have a great blood count."
The McKees will know this morning if there is a flight available to Sydney.
"Usually there is a Wednesday flight, which would suit us perfectly because she comes out of quarantine on Tuesday."
While in quarantine Sunline has been kept up to the fitness mark by cantering a lap of the Sandown racetrack each morning.
"All she'll need is a couple of quiet gallops and one decent one. It's only top-up work because she's pretty fit."
One of the McKees will fly to Sydney to oversee a Sunline gallop on Saturday morning.
"If we're not happy with what she does we can bring her straight home - nothing will be lost."
The All Aged Stakes is a 1600m weight-for-age event with, most importantly, a group one classification.
The McKee stable is delighted with the effort at Avondale on Saturday of class 3-year-old Millennium, who finished a gallant second to Special Call when resuming from a summer spell.
Despite sitting three wide throughout and conceding the winner 4.5kg, Millennium pressed hard in the closing stages to be only half a length away.
"It was a top effort considering the track firmed up with the wind on the day and he definitely needs it rain-affected," said Stephen McKee.
"He's going to grow another leg when it rains."
* Another certain starter in Sydney after the weekend's racing is Cronus, whose last-gasp Awapuni Gold Cup win on Saturday earned him a crack at the $A750,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 28.
In a tough, grinding finish, Cronus showed plenty of heart to bomb No Alimony and Hero in the last stride to take the $80,000 feature.
Racing: Timing perfect for Sunline bid if flight can be found
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