Last year's Melbourne Cup winner set to back up in Saturday's Valley showpiece

Cox Plate looms for Gold Trip

<div class="raw-html-embed"><p>The spring's big three races are again likely for Gold Trip after the reigning Melbourne Cup winner emerged unscathed from his Caulfield Cup placing.</p>
<p>Co-trainer Ciaron Maher said on Monday morning that he was pleased with how the horse came through his Caulfield run, where he lumped topweight of 58.5 kilograms to a brave third behind Without A Fight.</p>
<p>"He's pulled up well and seems to have come through it pretty well actually," Maher said.</p>
<p>"At this stage, we will (pay up) in the morning. He didn't do much this morning, but he doesn't have to and he does look to have taken the run well."</p>
<p><strong>WATCH: The 2023 Caulfield Cup</strong></p>
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<p>Gold Trip last year ran second in the Caulfield Cup and seventh in the Cox Plate before taking the Melbourne Cup and Maher said the horse is in the right shape to tackle the trio of features again this year.</p>
<p>Mark Zahra will be reunited with Gold Trip in the Cox Plate after choosing to ride ultimate Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight last Saturday.</p>
<p>Maher and training partner Dave Eustace are likely to have two runners, as Maher said King Colorado will also be paid-up for.</p>
<p>"I think he'd be better at the 2000 (metres), so I think it's worth a shot," Maher said.</p>
<p>"It was a solid run (fourth) in the Guineas, I think he'll improve again into this race."</p>
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