Mark Kavanagh says he is counting on a stronger tempo in this year's Cox Plate for Whobegotyou than what stablemate Maldivian got away with when he led all the way to win the race last year.Kavanagh said it was an opposite situation for him this year as Maldivian had been a forgotten horse and rival jockeys let him dictate the race whereas Whobegotyou, the favourite, is a get-back runner."I don't think any jockeys in their right mind are going to let anybody get away with what Michael Rodd got a

Mark Kavanagh says he is counting on a stronger tempo in this year's Cox Plate for Whobegotyou than what stablemate Maldivian got away with when he led all the way to win the race last year.

Kavanagh said it was an opposite situation for him this year as Maldivian had been a forgotten horse and rival jockeys let him dictate the race whereas Whobegotyou, the favourite, is a get-back runner.

"I don't think any jockeys in their right mind are going to let anybody get away with what Michael Rodd got away with on Maldivian last year. That was just ridiculous," Kavanagh said.

"When Danny Nikolic took off on Zipping everyone just went mad but it was too late as they had to make up too much ground.

"No jockey in their right mind will let it be run at a walk again, surely.

"You can't catch the same rabbits twice in the one trap."

The former jumps jockey said something could happen from left field in the race and he would leave race tactics entirely up to Damien Oliver.

"I will not be giving Damien Oliver any instructions at all. I'll just let him ride his own race and let him do what he's got to do," he said.

"I think Whobegotyou races better when he gets back. He'll take off sooner or later and he likes this track so it won't really matter. Damien has to make up his mind whether he eases into the race or he sets him alight at the 800 metres or whatever. That's going to be his decision."

Kavanagh will become only the third trainer to win the Cox Plate in successive years with different horses.

The late Colin Hayes did it with So Called in 1978 and Dulcify in 1979, while Bart Cummings achieved the feat with Saintly in 1996 and Dane Ripper in 1997.

The Flemington trainer said Whobegotyou was in tip-top condition to maintain his perfect record on the Moonee Valley track having won four from four there.

"I'm very happy with him. I was never happy with the horse in the autumn and he still ran remarkable races. He's never been better," he said.

Whobegotyou has eased from as short as $2.40 after the barrier draw on Tuesday to $3 with TAB Sportsbet while Heart Of Dreams has firmed from $7 to $5.50.

Then it is out to Speed Gifted at $11, So You Think ($13), El Segundo ($14) with Scenic Shot and Zipping next at $16.

The only horses longer than $21 in the 14-horse field are Road To Rock ($26) and New Zealanders Nom Du Jeu ($61) and the likely leader Sir Slick ($151).

Racing Victoria Limited chief vet Paul O'Callaghan inspected Sir Slick at his Mornington stable on Friday following reports that the Graeme Nicholson-trained galloper had displayed soreness in his off-fore hoof.

O'Callaghan will inspect Sir Slick again before 7.30am (AEDT) on Saturday at which time a decision will be made on whether the eight-year-old gelding takes his place in the $3 million feature over 2040m.