Group One winner It’s A Dundeel is likely to add even more quality to the Cox Plate day program with connections flagging at start in The Vase at Moonee Valley.
The unbeaten last-start Spring Champion Stakes winner will gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning before a final decision on whether he runs in the 2040m race on Saturday ahead of the Group One Victoria Derby a week later.
New Zealand-based trainer Murray Baker will be in Melbourne to oversee the gallop.
Baker’s Sydney-based trainer son Bjorn has been looking after the colt and said he had thrived since his Spring Champion Stakes win at Randwick.
“He probably will run. He’s going to Breakfast with the Best on Tuesday and a decision will be made after that,” Bjorn Baker said.
“At this stage there is a leaning towards running.
“That’s the same path Lion Tamer took. Hopefully it can work a second time.”
Lion Tamer was trained in partnership by Murray and Bjorn Baker and he finished second in the Vase in 2010 before winning the Derby by 6-1/2 lengths in the wet.
It’s A Dundeel stayed at Bjorn’s Warwick Farm stables throughout his four-start Sydney campaign which included victory over Cox Plate-bound Proisir in the Spring Champion (2000m) on October 6.
The colt arrived in Melbourne last week to continue on his path to the Derby.
“He’s settled in really well,” Baker said.
It’s A Dundeel has firmed for the Victoria Derby (2500m) despite not competing at the weekend.
He was the $2.25 TAB fixed odds favourite before Saturday’s Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield but is now at $2.20 ahead of the Norman Robinson winner Hvasstan at $6.50.
Honorius, elevated from third to second on protest in the Norman Robinson, is on the third line of Derby betting at $8.
The David Payne-trained Honorius finished second to It’s A Dundeel in the Gloaming Stakes and third in the Spring Champion.
