The connections of Land Legend, the recent Group One winner, made their intentions known at the commencement of Tuesday’s barrier draw for the Group 1 W S Cox Plate (2040m).
This year’s running of the Cox Plate is scheduled to be held at Flemington, as Moonee Valley is currently undergoing reconstruction. The unique Cox Plate barrier draw allows connections to select their preferred barrier after their horse has been drawn. As the first horse drawn, Land Legend’s connections promptly selected barrier 12 of 12.
Land Legend, who led from start to finish to surprise Sheza Alibi in track record time in the Might And Power Stakes, was joined on the outside by stablemate Light Infantry Man, another horse expected to set a strong pace, who will start from barrier 11.
Aeliana, who was the narrow favourite earlier in the week, will jump from barrier 10 with James McDonald aboard and now shares the favourite tag 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, received a favourable barrier three. The two three-year-olds, Warwoven and Blind Raise, encountered varied results with their barrier draws.
Warwoven, the winner of the Golden Rose Stakes and Caulfield Guineas, is considered a $5 chance and is aiming to become the first three-year-old since the northern hemisphere’s State Of Rest defeated fellow three-year-old Anamoe in 2021.
Blind Raise, the other three-year-old and Guineas runner-up, will depart from barrier nine with Jamie Melham in the saddle. The leading jockey expressed her strong desire to add a Cox Plate to her Caulfield and Melbourne Cup wins from last 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.”
Birdman drew barrier one for Ben Melham, with the Underwood Stakes winner currently an outsider at $13, just behind Turnbull Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader at $10, who drew barrier eight.
“It’s the shortest way home isn’t it,” Ben Melham commented. “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 have Saint George and Middle Earth contesting the race, backing up from last week’s Caulfield Cup. Attrition, who finished fourth in last year’s Cox Plate, completes the field of 12 for the $6 million weight-for-age championship.
You can find competitive racing odds for the Cox Plate at various Australian betting sites.
