Young Sydney trainer Richard Litt will take his stable star Castelvecchio for an easy gallop at The Valley ahead of an anticipated Cox Plate start and is confident the colt can give the race a shake if selected.
Castelvecchio travelled to Melbourne on Sunday and will gallop at The Valley at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast With The Best trackwork session to familiarise himself with the circuit and top off his preparation.
Acceptances for Saturday’s $5 million weight-for-age Cox Plate (2040m) close on Tuesday morning with the Moonee Valley Racing Club to then decide the make-up of the final field which has a limit of 14 runners plus emergencies.
“I’m feeling good about it. I can’t see why we won’t get a run,” Litt said.
“I think we’ve got the best staying three-year-old for the race. He’s only had three Group One starts and he’s finished first, second and third and they’ve all been within the past eight months.
“There’s no reason why they would want to knock us back so I’m feeling quite comfortable. But what will be will be.”
Castelvecchio won the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) for two-year-olds at Randwick in April after his third in the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Most recently he was second in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last Saturday week and Litt said with that run under his belt at 2000m the colt was “cherry ripe” for the Cox Plate in which he would carry 49.5kg with Craig Williams booked to ride.
Litt said Castelvecchio had travelled and settled in extremely well.
“It was a small concern because he’s a highly strung horse and likes his routine, but he’s absolutely thrived,” the trainer said.
“I’m quite taken aback.
“I’m just very excited.
“I think if we get a run in the 2019 Cox Plate, we’re a massive chance.”
