There are few chances in Australia to run over the Melbourne Cup distance so it’s only natural if a horse can win over 3200m, the dream is alive.
For now, Plot Twist’s owner Greg Kolivos is playing his ambitions down for the winner of Saturday’s Stayers Cup at Randwick.
Kolivos bought Plot Twist from Ireland after he had had one start for a win over 2012m and Peter and Paul Snowden have trained him to three wins from 14 Australian starts.
Plot Twist ($16) showed his stamina under apprentice James Innes Jr to see out the gruelling trip on the heavy track, beating race leader Richard Of Yorke ($3.70) by half a length with another 1-1/2 lengths to the favourite Broadside ($2.60).
“There’s the Queensland Cup over 3200 metres at the Sunshine Coast in a month,” Kolivos said.
“And there’s a pretty good 3200-metre race here in April (Sydney Cup).
“But it’s a far cry from here to the Melbourne Cup.
“He’s a progressive young stayer.
“Hubie De Burgh and James Harron bought him for me and my wife Debbie from Ireland and it’s great to see him win over this distance.”
Peter Snowden is better known for his prowess with young sprinters but has had past experience with the race, winning with Adroitly in 2012 when he was Australian head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed.
“Plot Twist is not fully furnished yet,” he said.
“He is an out-and-out stayer. He doesn’t have a turn of foot but he can sustain a gallop. We will look at the race at the Sunshine Coast next.”
Innes doesn’t have much experience with two-mile races but said he felt like he was on the winner a long way out.
“I didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself but I felt I was on the one to beat,” he said.
“And I was flat out pulling him up after the post. He just kept going.”
