The wonderfully in-form colt Sweynesse is being aimed for a start in the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25, according to trainer John O’Shea.

Sweynesse could end his successful spring campaign with a Cox Plate tilt. Photo by Steve Hart.

After winning three consecutive spring starts including the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) and Gloaming Stakes (1800m), the three-year-old stepped up in class for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick Racecourse last weekend, for which he was the $2.80 second-favourite.

But he couldn’t keep up with Gai Waterhouse’s fast-finishing Hampton Court who simply outstayed his rivals for a strong two and a half length win.

O’Shea noted his first thoughts following the race are to test Sweynesse for a possible 2014 Cox Plate start.

“I’m going to take him to the Breakfast With The Stars at The Valley next Tuesday and have a look at him gallop and see how he gets around the track,” O’Shea told Racing Network on Thursday.

“My first thought is to examine the possibility of running the horse in the Cox Plate.

“He needs to have one more run.

“He does too well if you put him in the paddock for too long.

However the Godolphin colt could also run in the Group 2 AAMI Vase (2040m) on Cox Plate Day or the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) the following weekend should the $3 million weight-for-age not pan out.

“Whether that one run is in the AAMI Vase, the Cox Plate or the Mackinnon Stakes I’m not sure yet, but I’m certainly entertaining the Cox Plate as a possibility for him,” O’Shea added.

Sweynesse is currently paying $41 in early Cox Plate odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, with Fawkner the clear favourite at $3.80.

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