22/10/19 Moonee Valley Races: Cox Plate Final Field & Barriers
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- Author: Mick GannonOct 22, 2019 05:54 PM
- Photo: AAP
14 runners finalised
| Distance | 2,040m |
| Grade | Group 1 |
| Track | Moonee Valley |
| Prizemoney | $5,000,000 |
| 2018 winner |
Winx ($1.06) |
Known as the weight-for-age championship of Australian racing, the Cox Plate is held at Moonee Valley racecourse and wedged between the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup carnivals.
The weight-for-age conditions over 2040m is widely considered the most pure test of a horses racing ability in Australia, with the winner gaining direct entry into the Melbourne Cup.
This year's edition will have a different flavour following the retirement of wonder-mare Winx earlier this year. Her victory in the 2018 made it four in-a-row, an achievement unlikely to be repeated.
The early favourite for this year's Cox Plate is Japanese contender Lys Gracieux. The mare is a multiple Group One winning galloper who has an impressive career record (20:5-8-4).
While her record suggests she'd be better suited on a dry surface, she has placed in a Group One on a Soft track over 2000m.
Second-favourite for the race is the Tasmanian, Mystic Journey. She returned to the track in brilliant style first-up, but has been left flat footed at her past two runs. She'll need to improve if she's to be competitive in this high-class field.
2019 Cox Plate Final Field
| Horse Name | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
| BLACK HEART BART | Lindsey Smith | Brad Rawiller | 11 | 59kg |
| AVILIUS (GB) | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 59kg |
| KLUGER (JPN) | Tomokazu Takano | Tommy Berry | 9 | 59kg |
| HARLEM (GB) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Dwayne Dunn | 2 | 59kg |
| HOMESMAN (USA) | Liam Howley | Ben Melham | 16 | 59kg |
| KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 17 | 59kg |
| TE AKAU SHARK (NZ) | Jamie Richards | Opie Bosson | 18 | 59kg |
| DANCETERIA (FR) | David Menuisier | Jamie Spencer | 10 | 59kg |
| LYS GRACIEUX (JPN) | Yoshito Yahagi | Damian Lane | 15 | 57kg |
| MAGIC WAND (IRE) | Aidan O'Brien | Ryan Moore | 3 | 57kg |
| CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Mark Zahra | 8 | 56.5kg |
| MYSTIC JOURNEY | Adam Trinder | Anthony Darmanin | 6 | 55.5kg |
| VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 5 | 55.5kg |
| CASTELVECCHIO | Richard Litt | Craig Williams | 4 | 49.5kg |
| HUMIDOR (NZ) (em) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Blake Shinn | 14 | 59kg |
| MR QUICKIE (em) | Phillip Stokes | Glen Boss | 12 | 57.5kg |
| GAILO CHOP (FR) (em) | Matthew Williams | Damien Oliver | 1 | 59kg |
| DREAM CASTLE (GB) (em) | Saeed Bin Suroor | Patrick Cosgrave | 13 | 59kg |
