Maldivian Rules In Cox Plate
Saturday, 25 October 2008: The bold leader may not be placed in the same class as the great front running stayer Might And Power, winner of the 1998 Cox Plate, but he was the horse they couldn't catch today as he powered his way around the Valley circuit.
Mark Kavanagh proved he is the equal of any trainer in Australia with his preparation of Maldivian for the Cox Plate after igniting the spark in the gelding following unplaced performances at his last two starts in the Turnbull Stakes and the Caulfield Cup just seven days ago.
Kavanagh schooled Maldivian over jumps during the week and added blinkers to the six-year-old in a bid to make him more focused under race conditions.
It all came together with Maldivian dictating the terms to his rivals, just as he was expected to do 12 months ago when he was the short priced favourite for the Caulfield Cup before he was scratched after cutting his neck in a barrier mishap.
Michael Rodd, last year's Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, had Maldivian in front from the jump and held the advantage despite a forward move by Theseo to race with him for the first 800m.
The pace was not the breakneck speed normally seen in Cox Plates and this enabled Rodd to rate Maldivian perfectly, allowing him to maintain a clear advantage over the chasing pack over the last 600m.
They came at him five abreast on the home turn but he kicked clear and was was able to safley hold off game challenges from Zipping and the filly Samantha Miss in the straight.
Kavanagh admitted the training switches and gear change were made in desperation.
"Never underestimate schooling them over the jumps and putting blinkers on with a Zabeel," he said.
Kavanagh and Rodd were the kings of the Valley as they combined for three wins in the first nine races after star three-year-old Whobegotyou won the AAMI Vase and Sea Battle landed the Jayco Mile.
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