Warrnambool sprinter Uxorious has peaked for the most important test of his career in the Listed Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Unbeaten in two starts this campaign, the five-year-old has had five weeks to freshen up after a hard-fought win in the Golden Topaz Stakes (1200m) at Swan Hill.
Saturday’s weight-for-age assignment over 1100 metres has been on his program since winning first-up in Warrnambool’s Listed Wangoom Hcp (1200m) on May 4.
“This is his biggest test but I think he is up to it,” trainer Matthew Williams said.
Uxorious suffers from troublesome knees and Williams said he had been able to give him an easy time after winning at Swan Hill and reload for the Monash.
“It works good for him having that break between runs because of his knees,” Williams said.
“After the Topaz he had 10 or 12 days at the beach just wading in the water and building up again.
“He’s had two pretty solid hitouts on the course proper and fitness-wise he will be a bit better than he was in the Topaz.
“We couldn’t get him any better.”
Williams said Uxorious was a brave horse and could be relied upon to give his best every time.
“He is so honest, always tries his guts out and never runs a bad race,” Williams said.
“The issues he has got with his knees most horses would be looking after themselves, but he is happy to run through that pain barrier.”
Only eight horses accepted for the Monash and Williams is banking on Uxorious’ fitness against that of Warm Love and Gold Trail who are both resuming and who he rates as the biggest threats.
“Our aim was to be the fit horse going into the race,” Williams said.
Three-year-old Warm Love was a much-improved filly winning three races in a row last summer and is resuming after finishing third to Black Caviar in the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February.
Gold Trail campaigned overseas last year when he finished fourth in the Group One KrisFlyer in Singapore and 10th in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
His only run since was a fourth to Gundy Son in the Listed Chief De Beers at Doomben on May 28 and he won a Warwick Farm 1200-metre barrier trial by eight lengths on July 5.
AAP TURF