History is set to be written at Flemington with this year’s running of the Cox Plate.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club’s 106th feature event is being conducted away from its traditional home, The Valley, due to an extensive track reconstruction project.
Saturday’s 2040-metre weight-for-age championship promises a compelling contest, and the week has seen considerable discussion regarding the depth of the Cox Plate line-up.
Given the ongoing rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne racing circles, it’s possible that the Cox Plate field might be missing some key participants due to the scheduling of the Golden Eagle the following Saturday. Regardless, the race is expected to be a classic, as it always is.
Ciaron Maher is striving for his second Cox Plate win, having previously claimed the race in a training partnership with David Eustace, with Sir Dragonet in the COVID-restricted 2020 running.
Maher’s stable will be represented by four runners this year: Light Infantry Man, Land Legend, Middle Earth, and Saint George. A point of interest arose when Land Legend was the first horse to draw a barrier.
Rather than choosing a favourable middle draw, Land Legend’s connections opted for the far outside barrier, a decision Maher explained.
“There will be more pressure in the Cox Plate,” Maher stated.
“He will be there, but he’s got to get there in his own time, otherwise he lights up.
“I wanted to be outside Blind Raise and Light Infantry Man, and then when we came out first, I said to take the outside.
“I’m happy he’s there. He’ll end up running pretty solid sectionals, the same as Pride Of Jenni, and if he can get the first three furlongs right, it helps the rest of the race.
“If he runs to what he did last time, he will be competitive, and there isn’t any reason why he shouldn’t.”
Light Infantry Man, drawn directly inside Land Legend, will be partnered by Harry Coffey, who guided him to his second Australian Cup victory in March.
“He’ll be right there, on speed,” Maher commented.
“He thrives on a good tempo as his best races are when he’s raced Jenni.
“He was super last start and he’s ready to run a huge race, and the harder the race, the better, and 2000 metres, at Flemington, is ideal.”
Both Saint George, who drew second, and Middle Earth, who drew ninth, are backing up from their efforts in the Caulfield Cup, with the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3 as a potential target.
Both horses will be fitted with blinkers for Saturday’s race.
Maher had previously backed up Middle Earth from the Caulfield Cup last year, following a similar finishing position, to compete in the JRA Cup on the Cox Plate program over 2040m at The Valley.
“He ran his usual race last start, and I think he had the best sectionals through the line,” Maher remarked.
“Caulfield, he doesn’t like, but I had to run him and back to the 2000 metres, we’ve put blinkers on, as he needs to find a little bit.
“Saint George, the Caulfield Cup was great.
“We’ve put the blinkers on, to make him that little bit more responsive and he needs a firm deck, so hopefully it doesn’t rain.
“He bounced out of his Caulfield Cup run. It wasn’t a very taxing run at all. He sat there and sprinted down the straight.”
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