Trainer Colin Little says El Segundo is over an eye injury and is peaking as planned for the Cox Plate.The eight-year-old will line up for the third time in Australia's premier weight-for-age event at Moonee Valley on Saturday after winning it in 2007 and finishing second in a photo finish to Fields Of Omagh in 2006.Little said he was again looking forward to the challenge after injury prevented El Segundo from contesting last year's Cox Plate won by Maldivian."I have made no secret of the fact

Trainer Colin Little says El Segundo is over an eye injury and is peaking as planned for the Cox Plate.

The eight-year-old will line up for the third time in Australia's premier weight-for-age event at Moonee Valley on Saturday after winning it in 2007 and finishing second in a photo finish to Fields Of Omagh in 2006.

Little said he was again looking forward to the challenge after injury prevented El Segundo from contesting last year's Cox Plate won by Maldivian.

"I have made no secret of the fact that we didn't want him 100 per cent until Cox Plate Day and that's the way it is working out," Little said.

El Segundo's campaign suffered a minor setback when he was hit in his near side eye by a mystery object, possibly a horseshoe, in the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 3.

He finished 12th, seven lengths from the winner Efficient, but Little was happy to dismiss the performance.

"He was very sore after the race on the Saturday night and the following day but the eye healed up really quickly with a bit of treatment," Little said.

"It was a nasty injury and we are using it as an explanation for his poor performance in the Turnbull which is one of the few times in his life that he hasn't run on."

Significantly El Segundo hasn't won in five runs at Flemington and the start before his 2007 Cox Plate win he was beaten five lengths in the Turnbull when sixth to Devil Moon.

Little said El Segundo was now at his 2007 Cox Plate winning weight, just under 500kg, and while he is listed to gallop at Moonee Valley's Breakfast With the Stars on Tuesday morning, he would be staying home.

He said a searching track gallop with stablemate, Melbourne Cup contender Ista Kareem, on the course proper at Caulfield on Saturday had brought the horse to his peak.

"He seems to working as good as ever going in to a Cox Plate," Little said.

"He (El Segundo) gave Ista Kareem three or four lengths start the other morning and picked him up.

"He has gone on and his coat looks better now."

Barriers will be drawn on Tuesday morning after the Moonee Valley Racing Club committee consults chief handicapper Greg Carpenter to decide the make-up of the final field for the 2040m race.

A field of 14 seems assured after Gai Waterhouse paid a $130,000 late entry on Monday for Epsom Handicap winner Rock Kingdom.

Nash Rawiller is his likely rider while Craig Williams will ride three-year-old stablemate Manhattan Rain.

Whobegotyou is all the rage at $2.40 with TAB Sportsbet to give trainer Mark Kavanagh his second win in the race after Maldivian's victory last year.

Bart Cummings will be looking to win his fourth Cox Plate with three-year-old So You Think ($16) who will need to rely on the discretion of the committee to gain a start.

Underwood Stakes winner Heart Of Dreams holds second spot in the market at $8 just ahead of The Metropolitan winner Speed Gifted ($9) and El Segundo ($12).

Black Piranha, Vision And Power, Zipping, Scenic Shot, Rangirangdoo, Road To Rock, Nom Du Jeu, Vision And Power, and Sir Slick are other likely runners.

Heart of Dreams, Speed Gifted, Rangirangdoo, Nom Du Jeu, Manhattan Rain, Rock Kingdom, Road to Rock, So You Think, and Scenic Shot are all listed to gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday.