Flame’s Cox Plate dream takes next step

[Wandering Eyes]

Brett Scott’s Cox Plate dream with Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed) takes its next step this weekend when the talented former New Zealand import races second up in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

The tough son of Zed put in an eye-catching performance finishing third when resuming in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at The Valley and Scott has warned punters not to underestimate the tenacious galloper this spring.

Down in the weights to 52kg for Saturday’s A$1 million contest at Caulfield, the Ballarat Cup-winner will be ridden by Mornington apprentice Matthew Cartwright who will have his first sit on the gelding in a piece of work later this week leading into the Group One.

If the seven-year-old can win at the highest level this spring it would be a fairytale result not only for the former champion jumps jockey chasing his first Group One victory as a trainer, but also his family, who has nursed Brett back to health over the past six months after he was hospitalised having suffered a bleed on the brain after being kicked in the head by a horse in March.

Brett says he’s almost back to feeling normal again after the harrowing experience saying it’s easier to wake up with a bounce in your step when you’ve survived a life-threatening incident and have a Group One contender in the stable with bigger goals ahead deeper into the spring.

Connections had originally targeted the tough import towards the Caulfield Cup but have changed plans now hoping he’ll get a run in the Cox Plate or even the Melbourne Cup.

“We’re daring to dream, we couldn’t be happier with how he’s returned into the spring and are excited to see him out there again this weekend,” said trainer Brett Scott.

“The Caulfield Cup over the 2400m was just going to come up too early for where he’s at after a small setback and he loves the Valley so the owners would love to have him run in the Cox Plate and then even a Melbourne Cup.

“Like a typical Zed he’s taken a while to mature but he’s a strong boy now both physically and mentally and you always know you can count on him to be good in a tough finish, he just leaves it all out there.

“We were really happy with his first-up run and think Saturday’s race will really bring him on, but I think we’ll see him even better third-up over a mile next start in the Toorak Handicap.

“Matt Cartwright will ride him this weekend down in the weights, he can ride 52kg comfortably and he’s a good rider, though our guy isn’t very hard to ride especially at this distance, his temperament makes it easier and he’s versatile.

“He’s as tough as they come too so you just know you’re always going to get an honest effort from him and that can really lift the chances of a horse at this level.”

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