Super Cool nearing a return for a Cox Plate mission

A low key jump out performance by Super Cool at Flemington today was the Spring Carnival starting point that will see the five year old head towards another start in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.

Super Cool is on track heading towards the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

Super Cool is on track heading towards the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Flemington trainer Mark Kavanagh has pencilled in a weight for age Melbourne Spring Carnival program and as well as the Cox Plate, Super Cool will contest the Group 1 $1m Longines Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 1.

But a run in the this year’s Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4 is not on the agenda after Super Cool failed to run the 3200m when ninth to Fiorente last year.

“He showed us that he doesn’t stay the 3200m,” Kavanagh told Racing Victoria News.

“He showed us that he’s a 2000-metre horse and that’s what he’ll be specifically set for.

“When you’ll see him start to come right is about two weeks before the Cox Plate. He’ll run in the Cox Plate and then the Mackinnon.”

Super Cool had an easy time at today’s 800m  jump out up the Flemington straight and was always under a tight hold to finish last of the six horse field.

But Kavanagh was pleased with the hit out and expects the Fastnet Rock five year old to go ahead from here.

“He hasn’t raced for nearly a year and is a little bit ring rusty,” Kavanagh said.

“He’s pulled up very well, he felt fantastic and you will see him trial again next week and take up a much more forward and solid position in his trial.”

Super Cool was rated one of the top three year olds of his season and took out the Group 1 WFA $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington during the 2013 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.

The 2013 Spring Carnival failed to deliver Super Cool a win and Kavanagh gave him the 2014 Autumn off to recover from the tough Melbourne Cup campaign.

From six starts in the Spring, Super Cool was placed third on two occasions to his superstar stablemate Atlantic Jewel at Caulfield in the Group 1 $350,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) and in the Group 1 $400,000 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes (2000m) before running a brave race to finish fifth to Shamus Award in the Cox Plate.

“It was our plan all along to give him the autumn off and get back and concentrate on this year’s spring,” Kavanagh said.

“He hasn’t won since the Australian Cup when he was three, but those preparations took their toll and there’s no doubting his ability. He’s injury-free, so we’ll wait and see what happens.”

“I would be of the opinion that he’s a much better horse going into this spring than he was last year.”

Kavanagh expects Super Cool to make his first Melbourne Spring Carnival appearance in the Group 1 $400,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30.

In early Cox Plate betting with Ladbrokes.com.au, Super Cool is marked at the lucrative odds of $26 while star Kiwi mare Silent Achiever heads the market order at $11 just ahead of Hong Kong Group1 winner Dan Excel, English galloper Mukhadram and dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls, all at $15.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.