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MELBOURNE - Owner-breeder Frank Tagg says his most miserable moment in racing was when Elvstroem missed the start in the 2004 Cox Plate, effectively losing his chance to win Australasia's greatest weight-for-age event.
Elvstroem had won the Caulfield Cup at his previous start, beating champion Makybe Diva, but a week later at Moonee Valley finished eighth to three-year-old Savabeel. "That was devastating," Tagg recalled.
Fast forward three years and Elvstroem's half-brother Haradasun is poised to give Tagg his finest moment in the same A$3 million ($3.6 million) event at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Tagg and Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil had a great time with Elvstroem who won five group one races, including a race at the 2005 World Cup meeting in Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates was one of four overseas countries in which he raced during his overseas jaunt.
Expectations on Haradasun have always been very high and although he has already won two group one races, nothing less than a Cox Plate victory will vindicate his virtual A$45 million price tag.
By Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, Haradasun became the most valuable stallion prospect purchased in the southern hemisphere when the Irish-based Coolmore Stud paid A$22.5 million for 50 per cent of the horse in July.
The George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Handicap winner hasn't managed a win in four starts since, but Tagg's faith in Vasil to have the stallion right on the day is unshaken.
"The way Haradasun has been working and the way Tony has been looking after him, we're fairly cocky that he'll run a really good race," Tagg said last night.
"Hopefully he'll be in the placings, or more importantly, win the race.
"There's been so much of a wrap on the horse from the time Vasil got him as a yearling right through to this preparation.
"In some ways I'm a bit disappointed he hasn't won this campaign.
"But in saying that Vasil has said all along don't be surprised if he doesn't win until the Cox Plate. He's been trained completely different to what we've ever done before.
"He's been around a while now and he's a master trainer. On Tuesday morning he [Haradasun] reeled off his last 600 metres in 34.3 [seconds], his last 400 in 22.7 and his last 200 in 11.3 and wouldn't have blown a candle out.
"Vasil said to me he did the work that he wanted to win the Cox Plate."
Tagg and jockey Damien Oliver were delighted with Haradasun drawing barrier four in the 13-horse field and he is a solid $5 second pick in the betting with TAB Sportsbet in Australia behind the $3.80 favourite Miss Finland.
Last year's runner-up El Segundo ($5.50), Turnbull Stakes winner Devil Moon ($6) and 2006 Victoria Derby hero Efficient ($9) are also right in contention.
* English stayer Purple Moon could put the finishing touches to his Melbourne Cup preparation by travelling to the Moonee Valley on Saturday but not actually racing.
Connections made the announcement yesterday, quickly adding that it would merely be to give the gelding some "paddock schooling".
"It might just get him used to the big crowd and give him some experience," said Sara Cumani, the wife of Purple Moon's trainer Luca Cumani.
Purple Moon had his only lead-up race in Saturday's Caulfield Cup, finishing sixth to Master O'Reilly - although his training team barely regarded the effort as a race.
"He was hardly blowing," Sara Cumani said. "It was as though he hadn't even run."
Fortunately for their horse, he didn't desperately need the hit-out to be ready for the Melbourne Cup for which he is now a well-backed $7.50 second favourite.
Cumani said the horse would probably do only one piece of work between now and cup day with most of his exercise confined to trotting and cantering.
"He really needs to do very little," she said. "We really think those big open spaces at Flemington are going to suit him."
AAP
