His horse might be rated a $201 Cox Plate outsider but first-year trainer Scott Aspery's plans for the weight-for-age championship are already well advanced.As he prepares the untapped Flight Of Pegasus for a return to racing in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill, Aspery revealed the reason behind importing Queensland jockey Chris Munce for Saturday's ride."About two months ago we mapped out plans for the Caulfield Guineas and the Cox Plate," Aspery said."Sure, it's a bit of a dream but if he shows
His horse might be rated a $201 Cox Plate outsider but first-year trainer Scott Aspery's plans for the weight-for-age championship are already well advanced.
As he prepares the untapped Flight Of Pegasus for a return to racing in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill, Aspery revealed the reason behind importing Queensland jockey Chris Munce for Saturday's ride.
"About two months ago we mapped out plans for the Caulfield Guineas and the Cox Plate," Aspery said.
"Sure, it's a bit of a dream but if he shows he is good enough to compete in a Cox Plate, being a three-year-old with no weight, then having a jockey like Chris can solve a headache."
For Flight Of Pegasus to earn his stripes at weight-for-age, the gelding must first convince Asprey he can match it with his own age - starting on Saturday.
"I'm not expecting him to win on Saturday but if he can hold his own against Helmet and Smart Missile and finish within two to three lengths of them it will put him in good stead," Aspery, who has been training for less than 12 months, said.
"The next step would be for him to perform against the three-year-olds at Group One level to warrant a start in a Cox Plate.
"The ranks of the older horses look a bit thin and it might be the year for a three-year-old (in the Cox Plate)."
So You Think won the first of his two Cox Plates as a three-year-old in 2009 while Munce, a natural lightweight, rode the previous winner from the age group, the 2005 hero Savabeel.
Munce rode Flight Of Pegasus for the first time last week in a Rosehill barrier trial won by subsequent Up And Coming Stakes winner Manawanui.
"Chris said he liked what he felt underneath him," Aspery said.
Flight Of Pegasus raced three times as a two-year-old, winning a Wyong maiden before finishing third in the Group Three Skyline Stakes.
He was sent to the paddock after finishing unplaced in a Golden Slipper day support race.
"We decided to spell him as early as possible to give him a chance to muscle up a bit," Aspery said.
"He's still long and lean, very much the classic stayer's build, but he is much bigger."