RACING
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MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club director Brett Bradley has experienced Australia's biggest races as an owner but maintains he is still just as excited as ever ahead of Foreteller's Cox Plate tilt on Saturday.
Bradley will leave Wagga for Melbourne on Saturday morning to be trackside at Moonee Valley as Foreteller takes on Australasia's finest in the $3 million Cox Plate (2040m).
Foreteller has already provided Bradley and his fellow owners with an amazing journey that includes two group one victories and runs in last year's Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Foreteller ran a top race in last year's Cox Plate to finish fourth but has again flown under the radar and is rated a $31 chance.
Bradley explained that no matter what horses he has been involved with, to have a Cox Plate runner is always a special experience.
"Excited would probably be the best word," Bradley said as to how he was feeling.
"To have another runner in a Cox Plate, my second, it's my favourite race in Australia.
"We're not going in with any sort of expectation other than excitement really."
Bradley does not believe last year's experience will help ease any of the nerves.
"It's not easier, it's almost as if it's happening all over again for the first time," he said.
"It's that exciting for me.
"For a second time to have one in the Cox Plate, it's not something you ever get casual about."
Foreteller is trained by Chris Waller, who has three of the 14 horses in the field.
Foreteller took out the group one Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield two starts ago.
He then went to Flemington and finished eighth behind Fawkner in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
It was that run that has seen the spotlight shine away from Foreteller and onto others.
"It's hard to say, he definitely deserves to be there," he said.
"He's come back again this prep and won another group one, at that level to win a group one each prep, you deserve a shot at this race.
"The reality is that we will need luck to win because we're not the best horse in the race.
"We'll try for luck and if we get a good clean run then we're obviously a chance because we're in the race.
"We're going to need everything to go right to win though."
Bradley said the decision to head to the Cox Plate with Foreteller was not made until Tuesday morning, when he worked very well at Moonee Valley.
The connections are happy with gate one, an inside gate was a preference and are pleased with the booking of top jockey Tommy Berry.