Cox Plate Coup Months In The Making
Story By Chris Scholtz
Tuesday, 21 October 2008: It was during that trip that Walker laid the foundation for Princess Coup's assault on Australia's weight-for-age championship by taking the mare to Moonee Valley for several track gallops.
The form guides will show Princess Coup has never raced at Moonee Valley nor will she have the benefit of a “refresher” as she will not land back in Melbourne until Wednesday night.
However Walker is confident the experience she gained working on the track some seven months ago will stand her in good stead come Saturday when she lines up in the $3 million event.
"The Cox Plate has always been her grand final. This has been eight months in the planning,” Walker said.
"We gave her a couple of gallops at Moonee Valley back in the autumn with a view to the Cox Plate in the long term.
“She handles the track very well.”
A combination of Princess Coup's sparkling spring form in New Zealand together with a high attrition rate that ha robbed the Cox Plate of some big names will see the mare start favourite on Saturday.
She has produced brilliant sprints to win New Zealand's top spring wfa races, the Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) and a second Kelt Capital Stakes (2000m) , at her last two starts and topped off her preparation for Melbourne with an exhibition gallop at the Tauranga race meting last Saturday.
"She had a nice hitout and we are very pleased with her," Walker reported.
"She has improved since the Kelt.
"She hasn't been trained for a two mile race like she was last spring.
“She's a lot sharper this time."
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