Kris Lees' foreman Cameren Swan believed Mugatoo was ready to run a huge race in the $5 million Cox Plate (2040 metres) on Saturday after a second hit-out at Moonee Valley on Tuesday.
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Newcastle Cup winner Mugatoo worked with stablemate Chief Ironside at the "Breakfast with the Best" session before owners Australian Bloodstock secured gate nine of 14.
John Allen, who will ride Mugatoo in Saturday's weight-for-age race, was aboard on Tuesday and also rode the six-year-old gelding at the track on Saturday.
Swan is looking after Lees' team in Melbourne and will spend two weeks in Sydney hotel quarantine when he returns, if COVID border restrictions remain in place after the spring carnival.
He was pleased with the work on Tuesday of Mugatoo and Chief Ironside, which is set to defend his group 2 Crystal Mile title on Saturday. The pair worked side by side with Mugatoo coming home down the outside late.
"That's what we were after, they didn't need to do too much," Swan said. "They just needed an easy, working gallop together and they both came through it really well.
"They went six and three, and come home the last three in 38. Mugatoo worked on Saturday morning and did his main piece of work. He did the same distance but came home the last bit a lot quicker.
"He's there to run huge on Saturday, he's flying. He's had a faultless prep."
Allen told Racing.com: "We didn't ask him to do too much today, it was just familiarising with the track and me getting to know him a bit better as well. We were happy with how he went.
"He's a good style of horse, big, powerful, and a good, big stride and he was actually well balanced around there. He was happy to get on his Melbourne leg and lead on that.
"It's his first time around the Melbourne way, so it was important to see he was comfortable."
Mugatoo, a close second last start in the group 1 Metropolitan (2400m), drifted from $26 to $34 with the TAB after the draw.
Swan hoped the inclusion of front-running three-year-old Grandslam would help Mugatoo's chances.
"Midfield would be perfect for him, just tracking the speed," he said of Mugatoo. "And hopefully there's plenty of speed and they make it a testing 2000 because we know he can run 2400."
Swan expected Chief Ironside to challenge in the Crystal Mile after a last-start sixth in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.
"He's going really well and I think he will be hard to beat on Saturday," he said. "He presented to run really well the other day in the group 1, but he just jarred up and his last furlong was terrible, but it was just because he wasn't stretching out on the firm surface.
"We don't want too much rain, he doesn't like it wet, but a little bit of give wouldn't hurt him and you get that at the Valley on the StrathAyr surface."
Predicted rain could help the chances of Mugatoo.
"You wouldn't want it heavy because he doesn't love it, but he's won on a wet track," Swan said.