Ciaron Maher concedes that Light Infantry Man will need to improve to be a major player in this Saturday’s Cox Plate, but the leading trainer knows the gelding has the class and resilience to rise to the occasion.
Light Infantry Man’s last run in Victoria came back in March when he captured the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington after a hard-fought victory in a gruelling contest. That day, he proved his toughness over the testing trip, and Maher is hopeful the six-year-old can replicate that level of performance in Saturday’s 2040m weight-for-age championship — the final Cox Plate to be run on the current Moonee Valley circuit before it undergoes redevelopment.
Since that Australian Cup triumph, Light Infantry Man has been campaigned primarily in Sydney. Maher briefly considered sending him south for the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11, but ultimately decided to keep him in New South Wales for the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill, where he finished ninth after a luckless run.
That performance didn’t reflect his true ability, according to Maher, who said the gelding had been carrying significant residual fitness work into that race.
“Things didn’t really go to plan for him that day, and he’s had a big workload to get to this point,” Maher said. “He’s a horse that’s more feminine in nature — he’d rather a pat than a gallop.”
Maher described Light Infantry Man as an intelligent and athletic type, noting that he doesn’t require intense training to maintain his condition.
“He’s active, he’s expressive, he’s not a dopey style of horse,” Maher said. “He’s naturally very athletic. He doesn’t need too much fanfare.”
For that reason, the stable chose not to send Light Infantry Man to the public Breakfast With The Best gallops at Moonee Valley earlier in the week. Instead, the gelding had a low-key tune-up at Cranbourne on Tuesday morning, where he impressed Maher with how effortlessly he worked.
With the Cox Plate field shaping up without an obvious frontrunner, Maher said it’s possible that Light Infantry Man could take up a more prominent position in the early stages.
“He thrives on high-pressure races,” Maher said. “When he won in the west and when he won the Australian Cup, both were run at a strong tempo. He’s led before, so maybe he could be that horse again.”
“He’s not the fastest out of the gates, which often stops him from getting right up on the speed, but if there isn’t much pace, he could certainly be forward. The plan has always been the Cox Plate with him. You’d have to say he needs to improve, but if the race is run to suit, he’ll be right in it.”
Regular jockey Ethan Brown returns to the saddle this weekend after Chad Schofield took the reins in Sydney last start. The Cox Plate will mark Brown’s first ride in the storied weight-for-age feature, and Maher said his confidence and composure this season made him the perfect fit for the moment.
“Brownie has gone to another level this year,” Maher said. “His demeanour and confidence have really come through. He’s been riding extremely well in Sydney — it wouldn’t matter where he’s riding right now. He’s got that air of confidence about him that you need in the big races, and that’s what makes the difference.”
“He rides Light Infantry Man very well, and we probably missed him last start. I’m glad he’s back on board for Saturday.”
With Light Infantry Man proven at Group 1 level and now back in the hands of his preferred rider, Maher is quietly confident the gelding can give another bold showing in what promises to be a tactical Cox Plate.