Trainer hopes for fairytale finish

THE Caulfield Cup tragedy could soon be just a painful memory for trainer Mark Kavanagh, who is quietly confident of writing the fairytale of the spring by winning the $3 million Cox Plate on Saturday.

Kavanagh earned the admiration of everyone in racing with his brave acceptance of the late scratching of hot favourite Maldivian from last week's Caulfield Cup - and many are hoping karma will be riding with him in the Cox Plate.

The once battling jockey turned big-time Flemington trainer will complete an amazing seven-day turnaround if either of his two mares, Devil Moon or Divine Madonna, can run away with the weight-for-age championship.

Even rival owner Lloyd Williams, who is represented by Efficient and Zipping in the Cox Plate, said he felt empathy for Kavanagh after the Caulfield Cup.

"What happened to Maldivian was very unfortunate but Mark Kavanagh should be commended for the manner in which he has handled himself," Williams said.

Kavanagh has done his best to put behind him the Maldivian drama and this week declared: "If you want to play at the top, you have to take the knocks."

Having ridden a magic carpet through the spring carnival until his Caulfield Cup disaster, Kavanagh said he was not dwelling on what might have been with Maldivian.

Instead, he is focusing on the Cox Plate and the undeniable chances of Devil Moon and Divine Madonna.

Kavanagh's mares are the only last-start winners in the Cox Plate field, both being successful at Group One level, and they have drawn good barriers with Divine Madonna to start from two and Devil Moon right alongside her in three.

But Kavanagh, as is his wont, has kept the media on their toes by refusing to reveal race tactics for Devil Moon.

The trainer has even gagged race jockey Hugh Bowman from discussing race tactics, adding further intrigue to the most open Cox Plate in years.

Devil Moon led throughout to win the Group One Turnbull Stakes last start and is viewed by most form expects as the natural leader in the Cox Plate, but Kavanagh is giving nothing away.

"Devil Moon won't drop back to last but we are not even-money to be leading on the first turn," Kavanagh said.

"We have two race plans and, with all due respect, we won't know where she will be until the post the first time, but there is no way we will be carving out flash early sectionals."

Kavanagh said it was wrong to naturally assume Devil Moon had to set the pace in the Cox Plate.

"Devil Moon's not one-dimensional," the trainer said.

"She has shown before she can race anywhere we want to in a race.

"She's won at Moonee Valley, she's won at the trip and she beat them all fair and square at Flemington, but everyone else is blaming the track that day."

Kavanagh conceded Toorak Handicap winner Divine Madonna has to "answer a few questions" in the Cox Plate.

"Divine Madonna hasn't raced over this distance before and we have thrown her in the deep end because she's never been to Moonee Valley," he said.

"I'm not worried about the track because it wouldn't matter if she drew two or 22, she is going to drop out to last early and will be able to see where the other horses are going. But the remarkable thing about this mare is she is capable of anything."

Kavanagh agreed the Cox Plate was more open than usual.

"There is no dominant horse this year, I think the field is very even," he added.

"The horses they have been calling the fab four all spring - Haradasun, Miss Finland, El Segundo and Marasco - are the ones to beat.

"These are wonderful horses we are up against, this is the greatest race in Australia.

"It would be quite brash if you were inwardly confident, but I'm very happy with my two horses."

Kavanagh then showed he has not lost his sense of humour, either.

"All I'm confident about is that Devil Moon and Divine Madonna will both get out of the gates," he added.

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