With Spring Carnival now in full swing, attention turns to the 101st staging of the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Saturday.
First contested in 1922, the Group 1 classic is named after WS Cox, who founded the Melbourne Racing Club.
The horses will gallop over 2,040 meters and the prize money on offer is $5 million, ensuring the annual race, which starts at 5.10pm AEDT, attracts the best weight-for-age entrants of Australia and abroad.
Previous winners include racing legend Phar Lap (1930-31), triple Melbourne Cup winning mare Makybe Diva (2005) and Winx, who saluted for four consecutive years between 2015 and 2018.
Japan’s Prognosis ($3.80) is the early favorite this year with Damian Lane on board, ahead of Via Sistina ($4) and the Ciaron Maher-trained Pride of Jenni ($4.40).
Here’s what you need to know about the 2024 Cox Plate runners.
Field – 2024 WS Cox Plate – Group 1, Moonee Valley Racecourse
1. Mr Brightside (barrier 2)
Rider: Craig Williams
Coach: Ben, Will and JD Hayes
Fees: $8.50
The Truth: Consistent galloper and a crowd favorite. Don’t discard.
With the Spring Carnival in full swing, attention now turns to the 101st running of the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured, favorite pre-race forecast).
Superstar jockey James McDonald, who will ride Via Sistina (pictured), is chasing his 100th career victory in Group One.
2. Forecast (barrier 5)
Rider: Damian Lane
Coach: Mitsumasa Nakauchida
Fees $3.80
The truth: the pre-race favorite will require some stops.
3. Kovalica (barrier 9)
Rider: Mark Zahra
Coach: Chris Waller
Fees: $26
The truth: I prefer the place.
4. Royal Board of Trustees (barrier 3)
Rider: Michael Dee
Coach: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Fees: $34
The truth: it could be surpassed by the quality field.
5. Docklands (barrier 1)
Rider: Blake Shinn
Coach: Harry Eustace
Fees: $15
The truth: fit rider, value bet.
6. Jenni’s Pride (Barrier 7)
Rider: Declan Bates
Coach: Ciaron Maher
Fees: $4.80
The truth: genuine opportunity.
Decorated trainer Chris Waller confident Irishman Via Sistina can salute Moonee Valley
Coach James Cummins (right) hopes Broadsiding surprises the quality field.
7. Via Sistina (barrier 4)
Rider: James McDonald
Coach: Chris Waller
Fees: $4
The truth: It could be the fairy tale for hoopsman James McDonald, who is chasing his 100th career victory in Group 1.
8. Barrage (barrier 8)
Rider: Jamie Kah
Coach: James Cummings
Fees: $6
The truth: it should appear when necessary.
9. Evaporate (barrier 6)
Rider: Karis Teetan
Coach: Ben, Will and JD Hayes
Fees: $20
The truth: a victory would be a surprise.
What is the start time?
The horses are expected to jump the barriers at 5.10pm on Saturday afternoon AEDT, as the ninth race on a 10-horse card.
Champion mare Winx won the Cox Plate a record four times (pictured, with jockey Hugh Bowman)
A packed crowd is set to watch the live Cox Plate, which was first held in 1922 (pictured, racegoers trackside last year)
Where can I watch the Cox Plate if I don’t have a ticket?
Channel 7 will broadcast the race on open television, with coverage also on Sky Racing.
7 Plus is a streaming option.
How much does the winner get?
The total prize money is $5 million, with the winning connections and jockey taking home $3 million.
$750,000 awaits second place, and $375,000 for third place.
The Cox Plate: previous winners
2023 – Romantic Warrior
2022 – Anamoe
2021 – State of rest
2020 – Lord Dragonet
2019 – Lys Gracieux
2018-winx
2017-winx
2016-winx
2015 – winx