Ciaron Maher concedes Light Infantry Man needs to lift to win the Cox Plate.
However, the last time the gelding raced in Victoria, Light Infantry Man collected the Group 1 Australian Cup in a tough run 2000m at Flemington in March.
That is what Maher is hoping for again on Saturday when the 2040m weight-for-age championship is run for the final time on the current Moonee Valley circuit before it is ripped up and rebuilt.
Light Infantry Man has campaigned in Sydney this preparation and Maher did toy with the idea of bringing the gelding to Melbourne for the Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11.
Instead, Light Infantry Man remained in Sydney, finishing ninth in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill, that day.
Things didn’t pan out for Light Infantry Man that day which also came on top of a heavy workload to get him to peak fitness.
Maher described Light Infantry Man as ‘feminine’, a horse that would prefer a pat than a gallop.
“He’s active, he’s expressive, he’s not a dopey style horse,” Maher said.
“He’s a naturally very athletic style of horse. He doesn’t need too much fanfare.”
For that reason, Maher kept Light Infantry Man away from the Moonee Valley Breakfast With The Best and instead galloped him at Cranbourne on Tuesday where the gelding barely raised a sweat.
The perceived lack of pace on Saturday could see Light Infantry Man take up the roll as leader.
“He thrives on high pressure races,” Maher said.
“When he won in the west and when he won the Australian Cup, they were really hot pace races.
“He has led before, so maybe he could be that horse.
“He’s not the quickest horse into gear which prevents him a lot of the time from getting up there, but if there is a lack (of pace), then he could be forward, for sure.
“The plan has always been the Cox Plate with him. You would say he has to improve, but if the race is run to suit, he will.”
Regular rider Ethan Brown is back aboard Light Infantry Man after Chad Scofield had the mount in Sydney last time out.
It will be Brown’s first Cox Plate ride.
“Brownie has gone to another level this year,” Maher said.
“His demeanour and his confidence have come through.
“He’s been riding very well in Sydney. It wouldn’t matter where he’s riding at the moment. He’s got that air of confidence about him which you need in those big races and that’s the difference.
“He rides Light Infantry Man very well and we probably missed him last start.”
