Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will consider a Cox Plate start for Tagaloa if he runs up to expectation in the Group 1 $2m Neds Cauldfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10.
Tagaloa, above, is one of the early fancies for the 2020 Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Tagaloa was one of the juvenile stars during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with his win in the Group 1 Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and co-trainer Trent Busuttin would like to test him against the top weight for age horses in the Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 24.
“We’ve got everything earmarked towards the Caulfield Guineas at this stage and if he went that way and came up as good as we hope, I’d love to have a crack at a Cox Plate with him,” Busuttin told RSN927.
Busuttin is delighted with the way that Tagaloa has returned from a spell and is looking to kick off his 2020 Spring Carnival campaign in the Group 3 $160,000 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 29.
“He’s thickened up over the neck and shoulders and we’re very excited,” Busuttin said.
“He’ll kick off in the McNeil Stakes on the 29th (August) and then go to the Danehill Stakes down the straight at Flemington.
“After that we’ve got the option of either going up to Sydney to the Golden Rose, if you can get up there which I’m sure you’ll be able to by then, or alternatively go to the Guineas Prelude and keep him down here.”
Tagaloa also performed well during the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival with a second in the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick followed by a fourth in the Group 1 $3.5m Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
Tagaloa has been installed as one of the top fancies for the Caulfield Guineas as the $9 second favourote with Ladbrokes.com.au behind dual juvenile Group 1 winner King’s Legacy at $7.50 while in the Cox Plate the Lord Kanaloa colt is rated as a $101 chance.
Early betting for the 2020 Caulfield Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au: $7.50 King’s Legacy, $9 Tagaloa, $12 Doubtland, Pletzer, $13 Cherry Tortoni, $14 Glenfiddich, $15 Farnan, Mamaragan, North Pacific, Prague, $17 Rothfire, $21 Albarado, Larimer Street, Ole Kirk, $26 Aysar, Charleton Edxdie, Crosshaven, Immortal Love, Khoekhoe, Overlord, $31 or better the rest.
The post Caulfield Guineas is the key to Tagaloa’s Cox Plate chances appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
