Punters are against him, but the perfect barrier draw has given Dalasan every chance at Group 1 glory in the $5m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The four-time Group 1 placegetter will jump from barrier three with the in-form Daniel Moor in the saddle and despite coming off a last-start placing in the Group 1 Epsom in Sydney, is marked a $61 chance with tab.com.au.
“I’m very surprised by the price,’’ co-trainer Leon Macdonald said.
“His past four runs in Group 1 races have been very strong,’’ he said.
It has been a bumpy road to the Cox Plate for Dalasan who suffered an early spring setback and he’s one of just three horses to have raced at Moonee Valley.
Star New Zealand mare Probabeel ran seventh in last year’s Cox Plate and then 12th in the All-Star Mile earlier this year, while Verry Elleegant finished 12th in the 2019 Cox Plate behind Lys Gracieux.
