Connections of Land Legend, the recent surprise Group One victor, declared their intentions early at Tuesday’s barrier draw for the highly anticipated Group 1 W S Cox Plate (2040m).
This year’s running of the iconic Cox Plate will take place at Flemington, with Moonee Valley undergoing reconstruction. The unique draw system for the Cox Plate allows connections to select their barrier after their horse is drawn. As the first horse to be drawn, Land Legend’s connections swiftly chose barrier 12 of 12.
Land Legend, who led all the way to upset Sheza Alibi in track record time in the Might And Power Stakes, was joined on the outside by stablemate Light Infantry Man, another anticipated speed influence, who will jump from barrier 11.
Aeliana, who was the narrow favourite earlier in the week, will start from barrier 10 with James McDonald in the saddle and now shares favouritism at $4.50 with Sir Delius, who drew barrier five.
Ceolwulf, confirmed to be backing up from his second-place finish to Autumn Glow in the King Charles III Stakes on Saturday, drew a favourable barrier three. The two three-year-olds, Warwoven and Blind Raise, received mixed outcomes from the draw.
Warwoven, the winner of the Golden Rose Stakes and Caulfield Guineas, is a $5 chance and is aiming to become the first three-year-old since the northern hemisphere’s State Of Rest denied fellow three-year-old Anamoe in 2021.
Blind Raise, the other three-year-old and Guineas runner-up, will start from barrier nine with Jamie Melham steering. The star jockey conveyed her strong desire to add a Cox Plate to her collection of Caulfield and Melbourne Cups from the previous year.
“This was the race I grew up dreaming of winning,” Melham said. “This was my number one race I wanted to win. Obviously, I’m very happy to win a Melbourne Cup and a Caulfield Cup. I’m not going to give those back, but I would love to add the Cox Plate to that. I’m happy with the barrier, with the speed on our outside. We should be able to be positive enough, but get a nice trail, maybe in the one-one. I think it should have won last start… it was massive, most other horses would have folded in that. It wasn’t entitled to run as good as it did and I’m very excited to be given the chance on Saturday. If it means I’m thirsty and hungry all week, so be it.”
Barrier one was assigned to Birdman for Ben Melham. The Underwood Stakes winner is a $13 chance, positioned just outside Turnbull Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader at $10, who drew barrier eight.
“It’s the shortest way home isn’t it,” Ben Melham remarked. “If Land Legend leads like everyone anticipates and judging by the draw, they’ve kind of shown their hand, I think the shortest way home in fast run races is probably not a bad way to go.”
Ciaron Maher will also present Saint George and Middle Earth, who are backing up from last week’s Caulfield Cup. Attrition, last year’s Cox Plate fourth placegetter, completes the field of 12 for the $6 million weight-for-age championship.
Punters can examine the betting sites for the latest racing odds on the Cox Plate.
