Great King makes first U.S. start for Cox
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Two of the best dirt-route horses in North America, Knicks Go and Mandaloun, were scheduled to ship Tuesday from trainer Brad Cox’s barn at Churchill to his string at Fair Grounds. Mandaloun, who had his second three-furlong work Sunday following a break from the racetrack, is pointed toward the Saudi Cup in February, while Knicks Go is set to have his career finale in the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 29.
On a far smaller scale, Cox will start English import Great King in the featured eighth race Thursday, a first-level, turf-sprint allowance race with a $17,500 claiming option.
Great King, a French-bred by Shamardal, has form from eight all-weather and grass starts in England suggesting he can contend if this 5 1/2-furlong trip isn’t too short for him.
“It could be,” Cox said. “It’s our first run with him, and we just thought it’d be a good spot to get him started.”
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Great King is Cox’s first starter for Kia Joorabchian’s AMO Racing USA, which had a pair of 2-year-olds, Go Bears Go and Hello You, in Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar last month. Iranian-born Joorabchian’s racing stable has been based in England but is expanding into North America.