Beshara seeks Cox Plate redemption
Trainer Paul Beshara is looking to put a troubled year for himself and his horse Happy Trails behind him.
Having served a six-month disqualification for race-day treatment of Happy Trails on a previous race morning, Beshara is confident he can pick up right where they left off.
“He’s at about the same level this year as he was then and I’m expecting him to hit the line, Bashara told the Sportsman.
"I got my licence back in May and for the first month all he was doing was slow, long work and then we started getting into him about June and July and he's come up well."
"He's missed a bit of work because of the wet weather down here, but he had six months off, so it's done him the world of good," he said.
The now seven-year-old horse is favourite for the 1200-metre Spring Stakes, having ran fifth in the race last year before going on to win the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in the lead up to the Cox Plate.
Beshara is targeting a top-three finish at the Spring Stakes, but it’s October’s Cox Plate where he wants the main prize after Happy Trails finished an upset second to maiden three-year-old Shamus Award.
