Has Birdman developed into a genuine Cox Plate contender?

This year, the son of Free Eagle has won three starts from six runs, including the weight-for-age Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old took out that million-dollar race by 2.66 lengths, and now Nick Noonan has asked the question: Is that win good enough to put Birdman into Cox Plate contention?

Speaking on RSN’s Correct Weight, Nick admitted while the gelding may not be on par with Sir Delius, he definitely has a chance to be in the finish for the prestigious 2040m Cox Plate.

“He's probably still got a little bit to go, but he'd probably be a realistic player for a top five finish in that sort of race, or right in the finish. It's just whether he'd be good enough to win it,” Nick stated.

“But he keeps improving with every campaign, and the main thing we took out of this prep was when we saw him first-up and second-up in the yard, he looked like a different horse from last time.

“If he can take another step, then he's probably right in that division, isn't he? But it is still a bit of a step up to your Sir Delius’ and that sort of level.”

While Nick’s brother Trav admitted that the weight-for-age ranks across 2000m isn’t too competitive, Birdman still hasn't ran up to the level of Sir Delius.

In fact, Trav even stated that the he is unsure whether son of Free Eagle is an “absolute” leading contender for the Cox Plate, and placed Ceolwulf and Lindermann ahead of the gelding.

“The weight-for-age ranks, being blunt, are pretty thin in Australian racing at the moment if you're looking at that 2000m range. He probably sits somewhere in that top 10,” admitted Trav.

“(But) I don't know if he's necessarily one of the absolute leading contenders for the Cox Plate come the spring… He's probably a B+ at the moment.

“So, there's no suggestion that he couldn't improve again going into the spring carnival, but he'd need to beat the likes of Sir Delius, Ceolwulf, and even Lindemann I think is ahead of Birdman at the moment.

“I’d be a little bit surprised if he's able to make that leap to be genuinely fighting at the races with them.

“He sits for me somewhere in that six to 10 bracket of the weight-for-age horses currently at 2000m, but you'd think there's a bit of a gap between him and Sir Delius at the moment.”

Birdman is currently $15 to win the Cox Plate on October 24, while Sir Delius is the $3.60 favourite.

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