Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will back-up Gold Trip into the Cox Plate after all the early indications are that he has taken no harm from his tough run in the Caulfield Cup.
Gold Trip will be joined in Australia’s weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley on Saturday by three-year-old King Colorado.
The pair are among 12 acceptors for the 2040m contest, with Gold Trip drawn in gate eight where he will be reunited with Mark Zahra and King Colorado in gate 10.
Maher said the stable was keen to run Gold Trip in the Cox Plate as a lead-up to the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7, just as they had done 12 months earlier.
Gold Trip finished third in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, a run Maher said was arguably better than his performance when second behind Durston last year before going on to run ninth in the Cox Plate.
Ten days after the Cox Plate, Gold Trip took out the Melbourne Cup.
“We’ll keep an eye on the track and that the horse is fine, but the early signs are good, and he seems to have come through it well,” Maher said.
“His Turnbull win was pretty special. His run in the Caulfield Cup was arguably better than last year, so he’s in a pretty good spot heading in.”
Maher said he was looking forward to seeing King Colorado step up to 2040m on Saturday after his fourth placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14.
He said the weight drop was ideal for three-year-old who will carry 49.5kg under Michael Dee.
But Maher would have liked a softer draw for King Colorado than barrier 10 on Saturday.
“I’d be pretty keen to put him on pace, being a three-year-old with the weight drop,” Maher said.
“I’ve always been keen to get him out to that trip. I think he’s improved every start he’s had this prep and I think he’ll improve again.
“If you draw a bit softer, it makes it bit easier to get out and take a position.
“His best chance and I think with three-year-olds in this race with the lightweight, on speed is the place to be and I think we’ll try and be there for sure.”