DUBAI: Godolphin go in search of a first Group 1 Cox Plate trophy at Moonee Valley, Australia on Saturday, with the John OShea-trained Sweynesse.
A Darley-bred by Kentucky-based Australian stallion Lonhro, Sweynesse was thrust into the top level of competition in his sophomore start where he passed muster to win the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle, Australia in September.
He then made it two from two with another smart Group 3 victory at Rosehill.
Pitched into the top level at Royal Randwick on October 11, O’Shea’s charge ran a brave race to take third place in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
O’Shea opted to enter Sweynesse in the Cox Plate following a strong piece of trackwork at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.
Justifying his decision the Godolphin handler told the horseracing.co.au website: “He is a lovely colt, he is a big strong brut of a thing, 48 and a half for him is going to be a postage stamp and he is happy horse at the moment.
“He has a very relaxed demeanour, nothing fazes him and he will just bob around here on Saturday and that is a big help to him getting the job done.
“He knows his way around the Valley, knows his way around the Cox Plate and he gets the weight without too much drama.”
Sweynesse will be ridden by Chad Schofield who is looking for back-to-back victories in the Cox Plate following Shamus Award 12 months ago.
“On his work today, I’m glad he’s in the race,” Schofield told the Australian. “He’s fit, well and got around the track no problem as if he’s been here a number of times before.
“He’s got a great attitude and he’s got everything to suggest he can handle a weight-for-age race like a Cox Plate.”
The Cox Plate is considered as Australia’s Weight-for-Age championship of Australasia andcarries Australia’s richest Weight-for-Age prize of A$3 million.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, won the race in 1989 with Almaarad, who won a number of stakes races both in Europe and Australia.
