King Phoenix set for Cox Plate

Press, 25 October 1985, Page 12

King Phoenix set for Cox Plate

NZPA Melbourne The five-year-old gelding, King Phoenix, although yet to win beyond 1600 m, has emerged as one of the top fancies for the weight-for-age $500,000 W. S. Cox Plate (2050 m at Moonee Valley tomorrow. Barry Howe, a son of the horse’s trainer, Theo Howe, said King Phoenix had “done very well” since his fast-finishing Win in The Elders Mile (1600 m at Caulfield last Saturday week. King Phoenix came from second last but was too strong in the closing stages for Wise Call and Shifnal Prince. “He didn’t have a hard run and has had a couple of weeks to freshen up,” said HoWe, who is not concerned about King Phoenix getting the 2050 m.

“He’s a much stronger horse this year and I’m sure he’ll handle the distance.” Last year King Phoenix ran a creditable sixth to Red Anchor in the Cox Plate. “Last year he drew the outside and was forced to race wide in a good field. This year the field isn’t as strong so he must be a chance,” said Howe. “It looks a very even field and there doesn’t seem to be an outstanding three-year-old in the field, like Red Anchor last year. “He has had a fortnight between runs and everything has gone according to plan with him.” The prospect of a wet track will not do anything to harm the bay’s chances, as two of his nine wins have been on slow tracks including the 1984 Marlboro Cup. King Phoenix has worked very well this week. Yesterday morning he worked once round at Mornington before galloping over 1200 m, and quickening over the last 600 m, the same as he did on Tuesday morning. “Tomorrow we’ll give him some light work and then a swim,” said Howe yesterday. Because of Melbourne’s inclement weather, yesterday morning’s trackwork was done on the wood fibre training tracks. At Flemington, Cox Plate contenders, Riverdale and Shifnal Prince, worked well on the wood fibre track, which was rated as slow. The Neil Ward-trained Riverdale galloped over 1000 m in lmin 8.755, coming home the last 400 m in 23.755, while Shifnal Prince, prepared by Bart Cummings, went over 1400 m in lmin 40.755, running the last 600 m in 40s. At Caulfield, Acumen worked on the same type of track, rated good. The Geoff Murphy-trained colt covered 1200 m in lmin 20.255, with a stablemate, Normandy Bay, and finished the last 600 m of the gallop in 37.55. The Queensland colt, Roman Artist, worked over 1400 m in lmin 40s, coming the last 600 m in 38s. Meanwhile, at Epsom, on the wood fibre track, rated good, Foxseal and Centaurea galloped over 1200 m. The Rick Hore-Lacy trained Foxseal covered the trip in lmin 20.255, the last 400 m in 26.255, while Centaurea, prepared by Ross McDonald, clocked the same time, coming the last 400 m in 265. Bob Hoysted worked Spirit of Kingston over 800 m in evens.