Multiple Group 1 winner Humidor has taken his first steps in his comeback campaign that could lead to a third attempt to win the 2019 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26.
Humidor, above, is on the comeback trial for the 2019 Cox Plate at The Valley.
Humidor is on the comeback trail from injury after damaging a suspensory ligament when third to champion mare Winx in last year’s Cox Plate and had a very quiet 800m jumpout at Caulfield this morning.
Humidor has run in the last two editions of the Cox Plate when under the care of disgraced trainer Darren Weir and ran Winx to neck when second in 2017.
Part owner Brae Sokolski was thrilled to see Humidor stepping out at Caulfield this morning and is hoping that the rising seven year stays sound in his quest to run in a third Cox Plate.
A definite 2019 Spring Carnival starting point has not been determined yet but that will become clear after co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace send him around in an official barrier trial in a fortnight.
Sokolski said that Humidor could resume in either the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17 or the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield a fortnight later.
“We haven’t yet determined whether he’ll resume in the PB Lawrence, or two weeks later in the Memsie,” Sokolski said.
“I’m leaning towards the Lawrence, because I feel if we resume him earlier it gives us that flexibility from that point forward, whereas if he goes to the Memsie, he basically has to race each fortnight from that point forward through to the Cox Plate.
“The Makybe, the Underwood and the Cox Plate.
“We get more flexibility if he resumes a fortnight earlier, but it’s down to if Ciaron feels the horse is ready to go.
“We’ll have a better idea when he has a proper trial in a fortnight’s time.”
Humidor has graced the Group 1 winner’s stall on three occasions, twice at Flemington in 2017 in the $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) and in the $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) plus the 2018 $1m Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Early betting for the 2019 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au has Humidor marked at $15 while Australian Guineas winner Mystic Journey heads the market order at $4.40.
Pre-post betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2019 Cox Plate: $4.40 Mystic Journey, $6 Avilius, $10 Almond Eye, $11 Verry Elleegant, $15 Benbatl, Crystal Ocean, Humidor, Kluger, $17 Deirdre, Ghaiyyath, Indy Champ, Te Akau Shark, $21 Aerolithe, Best Solution, Cheval Grand, Happy Clapper, Homesman, Kiseki, Melody Belle, Prince Fawaz, $26 Blair House, Brutal, Danceteria, He’s Eminent, Johannes Vermeer, Kenedna, Magical, Rekindling, Rostropovich, Zabeel Prince, $31 or better the rest.
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