Racing: Cox Plate plans on track

Rudy Liefting's first question at 6.30am Melbourne time yesterday was: Who won the election?

Liefting had cause to be extremely excited about Justa Tad's wonderful third to Perlin in Saturday's A$350,000 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, but he knew that, longterm, the election result had the potential to be more valuable to him.

The Takanini trainer was on the way to Melbourne airport to return to Auckland and the knowledge that it was Labour by a nose on the night, deflated an otherwise upbeat mood.

The $25 million National promised the racing industry was tantalisingly close.

Wife Megan Liefting remains in Australia caring for Justa Tad.

"I'd better bring Megan's vote back to New Zealand."

Liefting is happy to allow Justa Tad to avoid Makybe Diva in her next Australian start, but the pair are on a collision course.

Liefting reconfirmed his A$3 million Cox Plate aims for Justa Tad with Saturday's performance, which was run on an unsuitable surface.

The Caulfield track was officially heavy, but Liefting said it was nothing like a New Zealand heavy track.

"It was actually very good, it was like a bowling green at the start even though it was soft."

Justa Tad, in Australia called She's Justa Tad, raced mid-field to the home turn then battled strongly, giving the impression she would have been better suited on a firmer surface.

"I know she's an out-and-out firmer tracker, but when she won the Lowland Stakes it had poured all night."

Justa Tad is such a brave, genuine horse she would manage practically any surface, but rain-affected ground blunts that remarkable acceleration in her sprint.

The New Zealand mare was ridden for the first time by Melbourne's Stephen Baster, replacing Sydney-based Larry Cassidy.

Liefting explained the switch.

"Larry was being torn between riding her in Melbourne and commitments to Gai Waterhouse's stable.

"Larry told me Gai wanted him in Sydney to try out a couple of potential Doncaster Handicap horses for next autumn and I said: 'well, you've got to go you can't be everywhere'.

"Anyway it gave me an opportunity to try out a Melbourne-based jockey, which everyone here has been telling me I had to do.

"There's no hard feelings between Larry and me."

Baster was delighted with the performance and told Liefting he wants to stay with the mare.

"It looks like she's coming right at the right time," said Liefting.

Liefting did not make the last payment for the Caulfield Cup, concentrating instead on the Cox Plate.

"The Cox Plate is our pipe dream and we didn't want to do both because she's only a young horse. We're going to try to utilise her brilliance in a Cox Plate while she's young, because horses tend to become more dour as they age."

As a final lead-up to the Cox Plate, Justa Tad will tackle either the Yalumba or the Turnbull Stakes, probably the former because Makybe Diva has been set for the Turnbull.

* Underwood winner Perlin is certain to miss the Caulfield Cup.

Dan Nikolic was at his best on the 6-year-old and rated him perfectly in front to get him home by 1 1/2 lengths from Our Smoking Joe with She's Justa Tad a neck away third.

The last three Underwood winners have gone on to win the Caulfield Cup but owner Lloyd Williams wants to concentrate on aiming the horse at the Melbourne Cup which he has won twice.