Add CategoryAIDAN O’Brien’s team has not abandoned Cox Plate ambitions with The Taj Mahal despite the import’s dismal Australian debut.
Notoriously lazy, The Taj Mahal finished 10th — beaten eight lengths — behind Gailo Chop in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
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Overshadowed by stablemate Johannes Vermeer’s stunning second, The Taj Mahal struggled despite Damien Oliver’s urgings. But O’Brien’s assistant trainer TJ Comerford has not lost faith.
“(The) Taj Majal just ends up being a bit lazy,†he said. “He probably needed that just to wake him up because he is a good horse and there’s better to come from (The) Taj Mahal.
“I don’t doubt that he’ll improve. I think the Cox Plate is a big option for him because we can change a few things around with him for next time. I have to see what Aidan and what (owner) Lloyd (Williams) thinks but I do think that would be an option.â€
Comerford indicated reapplying blinkers could be the trigger for a sharp lift. The Taj Mahal wore the gear when second in the Group 1 Secretariat Stakes in August.
“We might try blinkers on him next time because when he ran at Belmont he had blinkers on,†Comerford said. “We didn’t put them on in Leopardstown and it looked like he ran OK in Leopardstown but I think we might have to revert to putting blinkers on again.â€
The Secretariat Stakes has been a key race for O’Brien over the past three years.
Adelaide claimed the 2014 edition before posting a remarkable Cox Plate victory. Highland Reel also won at Belmont before finishing third to Winx in the super mare’s first Cox Plate triumph.