Following his amazing 2nd placing in the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes, CASTELVECCHIO has earned himself a shot at Gr 1 Cox Plate glory.
Well, that’s what his trainer and owners want.
He’s already a Gr 1 winner having scored in the Gr 1 Champagne Stakes over 1600m as a 2YO.
But the sectionals he produced coming from a mile back, too far back in fact, to grab 2nd in the 2000m Spring Champion Stakes last weekend behind the brilliant Shadow Hero, against his own age, were simply astonishing.
And in the 2019 Cox Plate, at WFA, he’d drop a further 10kgs.
So having a shot at it is well worth a throw of the dice.
Only problem in his way is the fact a fair few Europeans may want a run too.
And the race can only accommodate 14 runners.
Trainer Richard Litt has done an amazing job with the son of Dundeel and St. Therese. Thus far from 8 starts, Castelvecchio has earned $1,815,000 in prizemoney from 3 wins and 3 placings.
He ran 2.01 to grab 2nd in the Champion Stakes, less than a second outside the Randwick track record, with his final 600m off a super pace being a low 34sec.
The Cox Plate has been won by 3YOs and this colt would not be out of place and bookmaker BetEasy have him 13th in Cox Plate odds at $17.
Would even be a bit of chance, actually, based on his ability to run time late and his low eight but it will be up to the MVRC to decide if he gets the chance.
Have Your Say 🗣: Does Castelvecchio deserve a spot in the Cox Plate? Comment below