Cox Plate hub: Runner fails vet examination

Racing Victoria veterinarians have inspected 11 of the 12 runners in the Cox Plate this Saturday at Flemington.

The Ciaron Maher trained Saint George did not pass its examination and will be reinspected tomorrow morning.

The issue for the seven-year-old grey is that he presented unshod and had a change in its gait.

Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf is the only horse yet to be inspected as he arrives to Melbourne tomorrow morning from Sydney.

Trainers of the major chances in the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate joined Gareth Hall on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up to have their last say on their horses and who will win the race where legends are made.

Bjorn Baker

Warwoven

“It’s a tough race, no doubt about it, and it is a big ask because he has been up for a while,” Baker said.

“He has got speed, he has proven himself against his own age group.

“He is pretty tractable, he can go forward and go back … some have it, some don’t.”

How will the three-year-old handle the Land Legend and Light Infantry Man pace that will no doubt be inserted?

“He has got a good gate; he is not going to do a lot of work.

“I think the key is just putting him where he is comfortable.

“You talk about speed and pressure; I think the Golden Rose went quicker than any of these horses can go.

“The 2040m is another big jump, but he has got a really good base, and he is fit and well.

“If he is going to win the Cox Plate, he is going to have to beat some serious campaigners.

“I don’t think it is going to be too big a difference between Moonee Valley and Flemington … but only his second time left-handed and maybe the bigger track is not necessarily a bad thing.”

Adrian Bott

Sir Delius

We saw this horse at his absolute best over the autumn, dethroning Autumn Glow over 2000m, the question is – is he at this peak again?

“He is certainly building towards that peak performance that we are needing from him,” Bott said.

“Had a soft enough run over the mile and I think that told for him second up, in what was a truly run 2000m.

“On a testing track, he was chasing there, and it just sort of found him out in that race.

“It obviously showed where we needed to get to off the back of that run.

“It was pleasing to be able to have that tough run that he needed at that stage going into a Cox Plate.

“We just needed that run to really bring him on which it has.”

Sir Delius is seasoned campaigner who needs fitness under its belt and runs well on his grand final day, but is it possible that her best may already be passed her?

“That is always a possibility with those horses at a certain stage of their careers.

“Yes, there were a few little things that he was doing at the start of the prep that he hasn’t done in preparations previously.

“But I think the deeper into this preparation we have gotten, the fitter he has been able to get, and as the workload has increased, he has been able to sharpen up."

How will the race map and suit Sir Delius?

“Everything on paper looks to map as you would like to see it: where the speed has drawn, where we have drawn … we have got a kind draw, got exactly where we want it to be.”

“Flemington is a track he has been very successful at, he is third up now … there looks to be a lot of things in his favour.

“I think getting back on a better surface is going to help him as well.

“I think his personal best can be on a fast-running surface.”

Can Gai Waterhouse win that elusive Cox Plate?

“I guess that shows how incredibly tough this race is to win, and why it means so much to so many people.

“It would be fitting, I’d love to do it, hopefully we can pull it off.”

On Stable Mail, Bott opted to put his $100 straight on the win on Sir Delius in the Cox Plate at $4.40.

Joe Pride

Ceolwulf

“He needed a certain set of circumstances that would allow him to do that (go to the Cox Plate) after a King Charles run,” Pride said.

“He didn’t have a tough run, he seems to have pulled up real well. “This is the best Melbourne assignment for him instead of Champions Day.

“Our weaknesses from last week have become our strengths this week.”

How difficult is it to travel a horse on a week back up?

“It is not difficult, these horses handle it real well.

“I haven’t had a problem with a horse travelling particularly the older horses.”

What effect does rain have on the race?

“I think if the rain comes Cosmic Crusader and Ceolwulf are the two horses to beat.”

Will he enjoy a high-pressure race?

“It would be easy for me to say yes but I just don’t know.”

What are your thoughts on Barrier 3?

“Perfect. We wanted an inside ish draw to just limit the work he has got to.

“If he is going to run out a really strong 2000m which we think he will, he is not going to be written really close to the speed.

“Hopefully that draw allows him to be midfield.”

How do you see the quality of the race?

“I think in terms of quality of contest, very good horses fronting up against each other, a good tempo on, at a very fair racetrack … it is a great race,” Pride added.

On Stable Mail, Bott opted to put his $100 on the win for Ceolwulf in the Cox Plate at $7.

Trent Busuttin

Blind Raise

Busuttin spoke to Hall about what the plans are from Barrier 9?

“I’d say we’d be sliding forward; I think that the only positive out of it is there is no question that Land Legend is going forward from its draw, and Light Infantry Man no doubt going to go across,” he said.

“So hopefully we can go across underneath them, obviously we would like some cover but it is what it is Jamie will sort it out.”

There are many naysayers who do not think the three-year-old form can stand up in such a high-pressure race where the pain barrier is so high.

“Everyone is saying that, but three-year-olds go through a pain barrier every year in the Cox Plate.

“It is always a high-pressure race … and three-year-old’s always have a record in it.

“I’ve got no problems with it being a high-pressure race, we have 49.5kg.”

The golden question for Saturday is whether Blind Raise can see improvement from his Caulfield Guineas run?

“We were very happy with him Guineas Day, he certainly hasn’t taken a step backwards.

“I hope there is improvement in him, but in saying that he was pretty well on Guineas Day.

“He will present at his best.”

Blind Raise is priced at $15 to win the Cox Plate.

Ciaron Maher

Light Infantry Man

“His 2000m form at Flemington is his best form, he’s had all the good horses behind him, it was only Cosmic Crusader who got out in front of him,” he said.

“The stronger the race the better he goes … I was a bit surprised at the price as well.”

“I don’t really know the answer to your question why he is drifting … I was a bit bewildered myself.”

“Ah well the market is the market.”

Is Light Infantry Man advantaged with Land Legend also setting the pace in this edition of the Cox Plate?

“If he is the tempo he is only going so fast, but if he has another horse like him, he seems to go that little bit better.”

Maher thinks that Light Infantry Man is his best chance to win the Cox Plate and he is currently quoted at $31.

Saint George

“Saint George is not far away either.”

Saint George is currently under vet concerns but is currently quoted at $23.

Land Legend

“He went track record pace at Caulfield and he looked comfortable doing so, I’d imagine we’d try and do the same thing.”

To redo the impossible Land Legend is $41 to win the Cox Plate.

Middle Earth

“I reckon Middle Earth’s prep is just going along very well, his statistics are good.

“You’ve got to have the engine to win the Melbourne Cup and he has certainly got that.

“I still think he is right up there.”

The expectations aren’t for this Saturday for this stayer, but instead looking towards the first Tuesday in November.

Middle Earth is the furthest outsider in the market paying $101.

All odds thanks to Sportsbet.

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