It's A Dundeel's preparation has been far from ideal but trainer Murray Baker is banking on his ability and fighting qualities to bring him to the fore in Saturday's Cox Plate.
Baker has been forced to take It's A Dundeel into the $3 million Cox Plate on a five-week break after the star four-year-old missed a crucial lead-up in the Caulfield Stakes with a hoof abscess.
The laconic New Zealand trainer believes the horse hasn't lost much from the setback and said it was his task to get him as fit as he could for the race "without knocking him over".
The rest will be up to jockey James McDonald and the five-time Group One winner who is the only horse to have beaten the favourite Atlantic Jewel.
"He's a real athletic horse so it's not as if he's a great big horse that needs racing," Baker said.
"He goes well fresh, he goes well third-up, so fingers crossed."
It's A Dundeel's Cox Plate campaign reached another level when he wore down Atlantic Jewel in an epic Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m) last month.
The foot abscess a week before the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) forced It's A Dundeel to miss a couple of days work and also ruled him out of the weight-for-age race won by Atlantic Jewel.
It's A Dundeel has spent plenty of time at the beach as part of his recovery and had an exhibition gallop at Caulfield last Wednesday.
He pleased Baker in a gallop at Flemington on Saturday and will have another hit-out on Tuesday at Moonee Valley.
"It's going to be a great race. They are all good horses in the Cox Plate. That's why they are there," Baker said.
The pressure is often on in Cox Plates and Baker hopes the Australian Derby winner's staying ability will help if it comes down to another battle with Atlantic Jewel. Or any other horse in the star-studded line up.
"He can stay," Baker said.
"If you remember that race (the Underwood) he was under the pump at the bend. McDonald was kicking him up and it looked like the mare (Atlantic Jewel) was just going to run away. But he digs in."
Atlantic Jewel is favourite at $2.20 ahead of It's A Dundeel and Fiorente at $5.50.
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