Having been forced to give It’s A Dundeel an unconventional Cox Plate preparation, Murray Baker is hoping an exhibition gallop at Caulfield on Wednesday has brought the horse closer to peak fitness.
It’s A Dundeel worked solo between races to keep him ticking over after a foot abscess ruled him out of a crucial lead up run in last Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes.
It's A Dundeel - Photo by Sarah Ebbett
The setback meant Baker had to find an alternative way to get the star four-year-old fit for Saturday week’s Cox Plate, which he will go into with five weeks between runs.
Baker plans to give It’s A Dundeel another hit-out with a mate at Moonee Valley on Tuesday which he hopes will have the horse fit and ready.
“He looks good physically. I don’t think he’s lost too much,” Baker said after watching the horse work under regular jockey James McDonald.
“He missed a couple of days work at the start of last week but that’s about it.”
It’s A Dundeel, who defeated Atlantic Jewel in the Underwood Stakes before suffering the setback, was fresh and on his toes in the mounting enclosure on Wednesday before galloping onto the track for the workout.
“He doesn’t really work that hard without a mate. And without the blinkers on he cruised around here and he felt brilliant,” McDonald said.
“He was real fresh. Even going around he towed me around and finished off the gallop beautifully.
“He swapped legs up the top of the straight and back around the corner so all his legs are moving correctly.”
