News

Whobe has lot on his Plate

24th May 2010

*Herald Sun - Adam Hamilton - Sunday, 23 May 2010

A PLAN to win the Cox Plate starts today when Whobegotyou flies to Brisbane.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh has the four-year-old primed for two Queensland runs, with another tilt at the Cox Plate the long-term goal.

"This horse needed a good break after the spring, so the autumn races came up too quick for him," Kavanagh said yesterday.

"We were going to have a go at the Doncaster Mile, but lost a bit of time, so turned our attention to Queensland."

Whobegotyou, who hasn't raced since running below his best for sixth in the Cox Plate on October 24, has been sharpened for Saturday's 1350m Doomben 10,000 with three Flemington jumpouts.

"He's in perfect condition and ready to go," Kavanagh said. "This race suits first-up and then he goes to the Stradbroke."

The $1 million Stradbroke is at Eagle Farm on June 12 and Michael Rodd will partner Whobegotyou in both Brisbane runs.

"The upside of Queensland is that he can spell in the warmer weather after his two races and then come home for the spring," Kavanagh said.

"People ask whether the 2040m of a Cox Plate suits him. He is a Group 1 winner in open age at 2000m and the track might have been a bit firm in last year's Cox Plate.

"It was the only time he's been beaten at Moonee Valley. The Cox Plate is definitely his spring target."

Kavanagh said Melbourne Cup winner Shocking would return to the stable today to resume training.

"He's part of a group of spring horses coming back, including We're Gonna Rock," he said.

Laurence Eales, who owns Whobegotyou and Shocking, could have another feature-race player in Liveandletdie.

The two-year-old, who like Whobegotyou and Shocking is by Street Cry, looked fantastic winning his first run at Bendigo on Thursday.

"He's really promising. His next run will probably be over 1400m at Flemington, then he'll have a break and get ready for the (Caulfield) Guineas," Kavanagh said.

TRAINER Paul Messara will roll the dice and remove blinkers from Mic Mac for Saturday's Doomben 10,000.

Mic Mac wore the headgear in his first start for Messara when a close fourth to Albert The Fat in the 1200m BTC Cup at Doomben on May 15.

Originally trained in Victoria by Greg Eurell, Mic Mac is an $11 chance with TAB Sportsbet, with Ortensia the $4 favourite.

Messara said his new charge had worked strongly without blinkers at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

"Greg only put them on him for his last few runs, so I left them on in his first start for me," he said.

"I don 't think it's a gamble by taking them off. "

"I liked his run in the BTC Cup and he's improved since.

"He raced handy all the way and his run only petered out in the last 50m."

Messara has retained Shane Scriven as Mic Mac's rider for the Doomben 10,000.