Sydney trainer Richard Litt says it is amazing to be part of the Cox Plate build-up for a second time.
Profondo runs in Saturday’s weight-for-age race over 2040m at Moonee Valley looking to go one better than Litt’s sole previous Cox Plate runner Castelvecchio.
The mighty Japanese mare Lys Gracieux stopped Castelvecchio from becoming a three-year-old Cox Plate winner and joining the likes of Shamus Award, So You Think and Savabeel in the past 20 years.
State Of Rest and Adelaide were northern hemisphere bred but still officially three when successful.
“We’re only a small operation and to have one Cox Plate runner was a dream but to have another opportunity is amazing,” Litt said.
Profondo burst onto the scene in early October last year when he took out the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at his third career start.
But it has not been easy for the son of Deep Impact since with Profondo being wayward first-up in the Australian Guineas then the heavy condition was against in the Rosehill Guineas in his two runs as an autumn three-year-old.
Three runs in Sydney before finishing ninth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington has been Profondo’s lead-up to the Cox Plate although Litt took advantage of taking the entire to Moonee Valley on Tuesday to gallop.
“We wanted him to have a look around, but we didn’t want him to do too much,” Litt said.
“He’s a lightly framed horse, we don’t need to do too much with him, but he looked wonderful.
“He probably needed that run at Flemington, the run at 2000 metres and the experience, and on face value it wasn’t great, but he’s pulled up good.
“The race was run where it didn’t suit him, but he’s pulled-up well and here we are on Saturday.
“Hopefully he runs well.”
Chad Schofield, no stranger to winning the Cox Plate having steered Shamas Award to victory in 2013, will have his first ride on Profondo on Saturday.
