Manikato,
Here's just a list of the so called "plodders" Sunline beat home last season. I have only put horses with at least one G1 win, but a lot of them have won two or more. Tie the not, Sky heights, Ha Ha, Universal Prince, Crawl, Falvelon, El Mirada, Inaflury, Shogun Lodge, Defier, Old Comrade, Sports, Dash for Cash, Cent home, Desert Sky, Freemason, Sports. not a bad group of "plodders" i reckon. Granted, there is no Northerly on that list, but how can you knock the list of most of the ones i have named? Sunline was beaten twice by Northerly and once to Piavonic. Northerly was beaten twice by Old Comrade and once to Corprate Bruce. While nobody is doubting the credentials of Northerly, Sunline took the honours, because not only the media who voted for her, but most of Australia in general, think she is the superior horse, and as for making excuses for spring, it does'nt matter what she does, she has done it all anyway, she has nothing to prove, but having said that i think she will take all before her and prove once and for all, that she is one of the greatest horses, that we have seen, or certainly the best i have seen, but that is only my opinion. GO THE MIGHTY MARE.