Cox Plate Tips - Runner-by-Runner Guide for the Spring Carnival showpiece
- The Cox Plate is a prestigious horse race held at Moonee Valley
- Prognosis is the favorite with solid international performance history
- Pride Of Jenni aims to create a lead early for a strong position
Rated by many as Australia’s greatest race, the Cox Plate is run over 2040m at Moonee Valley racecourse under weight-for-age conditions.
First run in 1922, the Group 1 race has been won by some champion horses including Rising Fast (1954), Octagonal (1995) and So You Think (2009,10).
A small, but quality field, has been assembled this year and we have gone through every runner and offered our top four selections below.
1. Mr Brightside (2)
Possibly going better than he was last year when finishing second in this race by the barest of margins behind Romantic Warrior.
About the only knock on the horse is that he never won over 2000m but in a small field, he doesn’t have to be at his best at the distance.
He’s so consistent and has drawn to get a nice run in transit.
2. Prognosis (5)
Japanese horses have a fantastic record all over the world when traveling and the form is easy to line up because this seven-year-old was beaten less than half a length behind Romantic Warrior in April.
He was placed behind arguably the best horse in the world, Equinox, over 2000m in Tokyo this time last year and arrives in Australia in great order.
3. Kovalica (9)
Has been ticking along really nicely this campaign and has managed to place in both the Group 2 Tramway Stakes and Hill Stakes, the latter of which he made up considerable ground when the pattern was against him.
The major knock on the horse is that he rarely wins and, in fact, the last time he won a race was in the Queensland Derby in April of 2023.
4. Royal Patronage (3)
Made his Australian racing debut in the Tramway Stakes and couldn’t have been much more impressive scoring by 1.3 lengths.
He’s failed to win in his last three but has placed in all and he should be fit enough now to step out over more distance.
5. Docklands (1)
Placed in five consecutive races during the early and middle parts of this year in England and France over 1600m.
Stepped up to 2000m+ for the first time in the Group 1 Juddmonte Stakes eight weeks ago and was well beaten and would need to improve dramatically on that performance.
6. Pride Of Jenni (7)
Put in a rare poor performance first up but has been excellent since and I loved the way she fought right to the line in the King Charles last weekend despite finding one better.
Unlike like week, there is no obvious opponent to take her on in the early stages of the race and her best chance still remains creating a big lead and making the pack chase her.
7. Via Sistina (4)
Eight wins from 18 career starts including two from three so far this campaign.
She beat home Buckaroo in the Turnbull Stakes last time out at Flemington and that form has stacked up pretty well.
Completed three laps of The Valley without a rider at trackwork on Tuesday which is far from ideal and it remains to be seen what sort of impact that will have on her for this event.
8. Broadsiding (8)
Was already a two-time Group 1 winner leading into this campaign and added another with a gutsy win in the Golden Rose first up.
The inside lane was red hot at Caulfield on Guineas day which cruelled his chances but he ran on well to be beaten just over a length.
Doubts on whether he is classy enough at this stage of his career.
9. Evaporate (6)
Put together four wins in a row this campaign including the Group 2 Stutt Stakes here at The Valley and got within a length of the winner in the Caulfield Guineas.
Someone has to take the leading pack to Pride Of Jenni and with just 49.5kg on the back I’m hoping it will be this progressive young horse.
Verdict
1st: No. 2 Prognosis
2nd: No. 6 Pride Of Jenni
3rd: No. 4 Royal Patronage
4th: No. 9 Evaporate
2nd: No. 6 Pride Of Jenni
3rd: No. 4 Royal Patronage
4th: No. 9 Evaporate
Prognosis
Win
@11/5 - 3 Units
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