Trainer Mark Kavanagh says favourite Atlantic Jewel will be scratched from the $3 million Cox Plate on Saturday if the Moonee Valley track is wet.
With rain forecast for the next three days and showers leading into the weekend, Kavanagh said he and the owners had ”discussed the matter at length” and were not prepared to risk possibly Australia’s most valuable mare on an unsuitable track.
”I am making it very clear right now that if the track is rain-affected and I feel she will not be suited she will come out,” Kavanagh said.
”This has nothing whatsoever to do with the time of the race. It could be nine o’clock in the morning and it would not matter – she would not start. I am trying to be as fair as possible with the punting public. The stewards will be told of the situation. I just want everyone to understand our position.
”She is a wonderful race mare who I want to compete on a track condition that will suit her and see the best of her. We have worked very, very hard to get to this point but if the track becomes a problem she will not be starting. I can’t be any fairer that that.”
Atlantic Jewel, who took her record to 10 wins from 11 starts with success in the Caulfield Stakes, is favourite for the Cox Plate.
The forecast is for rain over the next three days, and showers leading into the weekend.
If leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller runs the group 1-winning Sacred Falls in the race and Atlantic Jewel takes her place, one unlucky horse will be ditched from the 14-horse field.
Waller said he would gallop Sacred Falls at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning before making a final decision. If he does decide to accept with the Doncaster Mile winner, the final spot in the field will be between Masked Marvel and Rekindled Interest.
“We will probably save Foreteller for the Mackinnon Stakes on Derby day but [the Cox Plate] has been Sacred Falls’ target all the way along,” Waller said.
Imports Side Glance and Mull Of Killough were invited to run by the Moonee Valley Racing Club, which means they will be exempt from any ballot. Both Masked Marvel and Rekindled Interest are at huge odds and have not won a race for two years. Masked Marvel’s last win was in the English St Leger, while Rekindled Interest won a group 2 event at Moonee Valley in 2011.
Gerry Ryan, the owner of Cox Plate hopeful Puissance De Lune, said he would wait until the outcome of Glen Boss’ appeal against a careless riding suspension before looking for another jockey.
“Glen is going to appeal on Tuesday. It’s a longshot but we want to give him every chance to ride the horse,” Ryan said. “We have drawn up a shortlist of Australian jockeys.”
It’s A Dundeel’s preparation has been far from ideal because of a foot abscess a week before the Caulfield Stakes, but trainer Murray Baker is banking on his ability and fighting qualities.
James McDonald will ride the five-time group 1 winner, who is the only horse to have beaten Atlantic Jewel. ”He’s a real athletic horse so it’s not as if he’s a great big horse that needs racing,” Baker said. ”He goes well fresh, he goes well third-up, so fingers crossed.”
It’s A Dundeel pleased Baker in a gallop at Flemington on Saturday and will have another hitout on Tuesday at Moonee Valley.
”It’s going to be a great race. They are all good horses in the Cox Plate – that’s why they are there,” Baker said.
– with Chris Roots
