Trainer Paul Beshara says Happy Trails ‘cherry ripe’ for Cox Plate

The trainer of Happy Trails says he couldn’t be more confident the popular gelding will cause a Cox Plate boilover on Saturday.

The comments came as one of those set to saddle up favourite Highland Reel said the camp ‘wouldn’t have any excuses’ if the international star failed to live up to expectation in Australia’s premier weight-for-age race.

Paul Beshara was at his bullish best when asked on 3AW about Happy Trails’ chances of pinching Saturday’s feature at Moonee Valley.

He playfully told punters he’d ‘see you in the winners stand’ after taking out the race.

‘He’s cherry ripe now,’ Beshara said on Sports Today.

The trainer isn’t concerned by the wide draw, either.

In fact, he thinks barrier 13 may even suit the eight-year-old.

‘He’ll go back, there’s no way he’ll go forward from there,’ Beshara said.

Click PLAY below to hear Paul Beshara discuss Happy Trails’ chances

Coolmore, meanwhile, isn’t getting carried away with Highland Reel’s chances of replicating the success of Adelaide last year.

Not yet, anyway.

‘If he’s good enough, he can win,” stable rep James Bester told 3AW.

‘But he certainly won’t have any excuses.’

Click PLAY below to hear the latest on Cox Plate favourite Highland Reel