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Kris Lees says a three weeks’ break between runs was the overriding factor in tackling the Cox Plate with Mugatoo rather than last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
The talented Australian Bloodstock-raced import will start from barrier nine in Saturday's $5m Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley, striving to become the first horse since Ocean Park in 2012 to win the weight-for-age championship from that draw.
Connections get the opportunity to select their barrier for the Cox Plate, and Australian Bloodstock principal Luke Murrell didn't have much choice this morning as eight of the 15 horses (14 can start) had already been drawn.
Newcastle Gold Cup winner Mugatoo would have carried 53.5kg – 3.5kg less than when narrowly beaten by Mirage Dancer in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 3 – had he started in last weekend's $5m Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Under the weight-for-age conditions of the Cox Plate, he will carry 59kg; the same weight he had in landing the Newcastle Cup (2300m) – a Group 3 handicap - on September 18.
"There were a number of factors we considered in deciding to wait for the Cox Plate rather than contest the Caulfield Cup," Lees said this morning.
"At the end of the day, we felt the three weeks' break between The Metropolitan and Cox Plate will be of great benefit to him.
"Mugatoo has been in Melbourne for nearly a fortnight, and the reports I am getting from Cameren Swan (stable foreman) are really encouraging.
"He is very positive about him.
"Mugatoo has had two gallops at Moonee Valley, and it appears as though he is handling the tighter track really well.
"Some rain is forecast for Melbourne later in the week, and that won't do our chances any harm at all if it eventuates."
Mugatoo's Cox Plate jockey John Allen rode the gelding at The Valley on Saturday morning when he worked with a partner, and again this morning when he galloped with stablemate Chief Ironside, ridden by Craig Williams.
This will be the 100th running of the Cox Plate, and the club commissioned a special trophy valued at $200,000 for the winning owners, to celebrate the occasion.
Fourteen horses can start, and the Moonee Valley Racing Club committee this morning had to decide the final make-up after 15 horses were declared acceptors.
Irish visitor Buckhurst, who ran seventh in last Saturday's Caulfield Cup, lost out and was made the sole emergency with likely pacemaker, three-year-old Grandslam (third against his own age in the 1600m Caulfield Guineas on October 10), securing a spot in the field.
Grandslam's connections had paid a $200,000 late entry fee in the hope their colt would get his chance to run in the Plate.
Mugatoo this morning was listed as a $26 chance, with boom four-year-old Russian Camelot retaining a tender grip on favoritism at $4.50, having to start from the outside barrier.
Star Western Australian mare Arcadia Queen and Armory (one of four imports contesting the Cox Plate), are challenging him at $5.
. Lees this morning indicated Chief Ironside was likely to chase a second victory in Saturday's $300,000 Group 2 Crystal Mile at the Cox Plate meeting, with Craig Williams his rider.
UK jockey Jamie Spencer won last year's renewal for French-born trainer David Menuisier on Chief Ironside before the now six-year-old joined Lees' team.
As with the Cox Plate, the Crystal Mile is a wfa contest, and the recent Cameron Handicap placegetter Chief Ironside will carry 59kg.
Another import Collide, a recent addition to the stable, is an entrant for Saturday's $500,000 Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m), but unlikely to run.
"Collide is well down the Melbourne Cup order of entry, so we'll have a throw at the stumps with him in the Lexus Hotham Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday week," Lees said.
"He needs to win that race to get into the Melbourne Cup."
Collide, a six-year-old by unbeaten European champion Frankel, has won six of his 16 starts and was sixth in the Group 2 Prix Kergolay (3000m) on soft ground at Deauville on August 23 before being brought to Australia.
