If Mr Moet races up to trainer Adam Durrant’s expectations in the Group 2 $225,000 LD Total – C.B. Cox Stakes (2100m) at Ascot in Perth tomorrow, the five year old will be heading to the east for the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Durrant is looking to shelve plans to run in the Group 2 $500,000 Golden River Developments Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on January 1 and will give Mr Moet a short break before preparing him for the Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 9
“We’ll make a decision on the Perth Cup after Saturday but I’d like to think we could run in something like the Australian Cup,” Durrant said.
“I want to feel him out a bit over there for a possible spring campaign.”
“If he was to win on Saturday it is going to make the Perth Cup harder for him and I don’t want to tax him too much before I head east with him.”
“I want a horse racing to his best so I can get a guide on where we are at but I’m confident he will measure up and win a good race over there.”
Mr Moet’s form so far this Summer has been first class and after pulling off a successful betting plunge to win the Group 1 $1m Carlton Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 24 ran right up to that win with a game second to Luckygray in the Group 1 $500,000 TAB Touch.Mobi – Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on December 8.
Durrant expects Mr Moet to be hard to beat stepping up to 2100m for the first time this preparation, the right distance for him at this stage of his campaign.
“He’s getting up to his right distance, he hasn’t got into a race that is suitable yet and he has still managed to win and run second,” Durrant said.
“So I’m looking forward to getting to 2000m plus with him.”
“He’s a genuine stayer and hopefully he can take care of those and we can head over to the east for a crack early next year.”
“I’m pretty confident he is going to be far too good for them, he’s a horse on the up and I think it will be a matter of him staying out of trouble.”
Mr Moet has been posted the $2.40 favourite for the C.B. Cox Stakes ahead of God Has Spoken at $5.50 and his stablemate Chester Road at $8.
Dual Group 1 winner Playing God is a $9 chance with the Grant Williams trained stayer Ranger at $10.
