Cox Plate on the cards for Brandenburg

[Wandering Eyes]

A tilt at the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) could be on the cards for Brandenburg in the spring.

Trainer John Sargent is keen to head to Melbourne with the son of Burgundy to race in front of his ownership group, and he has put a big circle around the time-honoured race to be held at Moonee Valley in October.

Brandenburg is currently spelling in Queensland after his campaign in the Sunshine State, which resulted in a third placing in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and fourth placing in the Gr.2 Q22 (2200m).

“He has just done over a week (spelling and he will do three weeks, then he will come back (to Sydney) to get ready for the spring. It is a tight turnaround,” Sargent told RacingHQ.

“He will run in the early Group races over 1400m to a mile. He is owned down in Melbourne and the owners haven’t seen him race there, so he will probably head down there. If he is up to it, he might be aimed for a Cox Plate.

“We know he can get the trip now, so that is probably what we are looking at long-term.”

While pleased with his run in the Q22, Sargent believes he could have finished a lot closer to winner Zaaki had they drawn a better gate.

“The draw probably cost him, he could have maybe run second,” he said. “He had to be used early, but it was a good ride by Rachel (King, jockey).

“It was a good run on a firm track, he likes a bit of jar out of it.

“I think you will see a nice, strong horse come the spring. He will be at his peak.”

Brandenburg was bred by Christopher and Susanna Grace and is a half-brother to Sargent’s former multiple Group winner Luvaluva. He races for a similar ownership group sporting the silks of Darren Thomas’ Seymour Bloodstock.

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