Trainer Danny O’Brien couldn’t have be any happier in the return of star stayer Russian Camelot who was gallant in defeat in the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
“He’s been beaten a neck by a horse who is now a three-time Group One winner,” O’Brien said.
“He had to race wide and without cover which really was the only option from that barrier and he avoided the interference when Gatting broke down.”
O’Brien confirmed Russian Camelot would target the 2020 Cox Plate and he would run in the Underwood Stakes and Caulfield Stakes as his lead-in races.
“Ollie said that’s a good path to the Cox Plate as racing him every two weeks will take the freshness out of him,” O’Brien said.
Fierce Impact ($4 fav) defeated Russian Camelot ($4.60) by a short head with So Si Bon ($31) another 1-1/2 lengths away third.
The race was marred after 400 metres when Perth galloper Gatting, who won it the previous year, broke down in the near-side foreleg and had to be euthanised.
