Kovalica backed to end drought in Group 1 Doomben Cup
Kovalica has been one of the great teases of Australian racing, not having won since his dominant Group 1 Queensland Derby two years ago in 2023.
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James McDonald was in the saddle that day but has only ridden him a handful of times since, as Kovalica has raced in a Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Doncaster Miles.
With McDonald back in the saddle for the Doomben Cup, Chris Waller-trained Kovalica has met with a steady stream of betting support and has firmed into single figures with bookies after being $14 earlier in the week.
The so-called 'J-Mac tax' is essentially where punters are taking shorter odds because McDonald is in the saddle.
'I think it must be the J-Mac tax,' Morgan said.
'It certainly wouldn't be stable inspired, what you see is what you get with Kovalica.
'We are not trying to hide anything.
'You would love to own a million of him, but at the same time he is frustrating.
'He goes around in everything, he has run in Melbourne Cups, Cox Plates, Doncasters, Queen Elizabeths and always runs credibly.
'He is hard to back as a punter, if you are a genuine form student you would look at him and say he's a non-winner.
'James McDonald is generally on horses like Via Sistina and Fangirl and horses like that, so it is great to have him on Kovalica again.'
• Shinn in emotional history-making Doomben Cup mission
Morgan revealed that after Kovalica's Queensland Derby romp in 2023, sale offers from Hong Kong around the $1m mark came flooding in.
Even though Kovalica hasn't won a race since, Morgan and co-owner David Devine are glad they didn't sell Kovalica who has now accumulated $3.3m in prizemoney.
'Some of the offers we got were crazy but we didn't really think about taking any of them,' Morgan said.
'He only cost $110,000 so he doesn't owe us anything.'
Kovalica caught the eye last start when getting home from near the tail in the Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast, finishing third and beaten less than four lengths by Antino.
Morgan believes a strong likely pace set by Pride Of Jenni in the Doomben Cup will probably aid Kovalica.
However he quips that he would love Kovalica not to be right at the back of the bus.
'If you go back and have a look at almost all of his runs, he is generally back last trying to circle the field,' Morgan said.
'Winx could do that, poor old Kovalica can't.
'I would love him to get a nice cosy run behind the speed, fifth or sixth in the run or something.'
This will be Kovalica's third crack at the Doomben Cup, after first having raced in it when finishing third in 2023.
That was when a minor prior setback forced him to race in the Cup in his three-year-old season and then back up to win the Derby seven days later.
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