Markus Maximus Makes Move West To Perth
- Monday, 14 December 2009 07:15
Markus Maximus is scheduled to be flown to Perth on Tuesday to begin his quest to plunder further riches in the west.Trainer Peter Moody ventured to Perth with Markus Maximus in April and came away with a victory in the Group One WATC Derby (2400m) at Ascot.
The plan this time around is to contest Saturday's $250,000 C B Cox Stakes and the $400,000 Perth Cup on New Year's Day.
Stablemate Fairygem was also among Moody's entries for the Perth Cup but will run at Flemington on Saturday before heading to Sydney or New Zealand.
Markus Maximus was also nominated for the Comic Court Hcp (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, but stable manager Jeff O'Connor confirmed he would head to Perth.
Fairygem will be ridden by Luke Nolen in Saturday's Bitalli Handicap (2000m).
"Fairygem has other options coming up, a stakes race over 2000 metres at Randwick next month, or even New Zealand," O'Connor said.
"How she goes on Saturday will dictate where she heads.
"She's a horse who only holds enough condition so we can't plan too far ahead with her, but this is the best she's ever done."
A five-year-old by Viscount, Fairygem has won four of her 15 starts, including her latest outing when second-up over 1800m at Caulfield on December 5, beating The Wolverine who is also nominated for the Bitalli Handicap.
O'Connor said Markus Maximus would be the stable's lone Perth Cup runner.
The four-year-old has had six starts since his WATC Derby success including a six-length second to Saint Minerva in the Grand Prix (2200m) on a slow track after which he ran eighth to Court Ruler in the Queensland Derby (2400m) on a heavy track, both at Eagle Farm.
Second up this preparation, Markus Maximus finished sixth to Bashful Girl in the Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown on November 21 before a last-start third behind The Zeebac and Itstheone in the Briseis Cup (2255m) at Geelong on December 3.
O'Connor said Markus Maximus would be ridden by Jarrad Noske in the Group Two weight-for-age Cox Stakes (2100m) at Ascot.
Markus Maximus has 52kg in the Group Two Perth Cup (2400m) and will be Moody's only runner in the race with Pentoscar and Definitive to stay home.
Picture - Greg Irvine