The best day on the Australasian racing calendar is finally here!
All eyes will be on The Valley on Saturday for 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day, headlined by the highly coveted, time-honoured weight-for-age classic of Australasia – the $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
There are ten winners to be found in total on 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day and you can find all of my selections below.
Race 1 - 12:10pm AEDT
Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap (1000m)
A quality field of sprinters will assemble in the first on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day included Katsu, who I have put on top.
Katsu hasn’t been seen at the races since March, but he turned in some fine performances last time in, highlighted by his fresh win in the Kensington Stakes.
His fresh record as a whole is excellent and so long as he likes The Valley, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
2 Units Katsu
Race 2 - 12:45pm AEDT
Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m)
Busustow has been freshened and drops in trip in the Red Anchor Stakes.
The Blue Point colt returned to action to finish second, beaten less than a length by Angel Capital in the McKenzie Stakes here when resuming, while he was last seen finishing sixth in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
He clearly likes it here; I’m looking forward to seeing him back on fresh legs and he’s drawn ideally under Blake Shinn.
2 Units Busustow
Race 3 - 1:20pm AEDT
Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m)
A great edition of the Crockett Stakes looms with plenty of winning chances engaged, including Certain Rise.
Certain Rise has only made two appearances at the races so far, but she only just missed on debut at Cranbourne before recording a dominant four-length victory at Mornington last time out.
This is obviously a harder race, but she has plenty of upside and a seemingly bright future.
2 Units Certain Rise
Race 4 - 1:55pm AEDT
Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m)
An open edition of the Moonee Valley Fillies Classic awaits, and I thought that the lightly raced Shockletz could produce something at odds ($10 at publish).
Shockletz finished second on debut at Ballarat last month and enjoyed plenty of improvement into a smart win over 1500m last time out.
This is harder, but the rise in trip suits, she has plenty of upside, and I’m of the opinion that Ciaron Maher wouldn’t saddle her up in something like this if he didn’t think she was up to it.
1 Unit E/W Shockletz
Race 5 - 2:30pm AEDT
Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m)
Future History was underwhelming in The Metropolitan, but I think he can bounce back in the JRA Cup.
Future History owned some lovely performances last spring, and his first two runs back from a break this season were full of merit.
He simply did not run on when asked for an extra effort up in Sydney, but the drop in trip this week looks to suit, and the booking of Mark Zahra is obviously a big bonus as well.
1 Unit Future History
Race 6 - 3:05pm AEDT
Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m)
I’m keen on Red Aces in this year’s Moonee Valley Vase.
Red Aces has only made four appearances as the races since debuting, but he’s quickly stamped himself as a horse to follow, breaking his maiden at Flemington at just his second career start in July, while he was eye-catching into second behind Keeneland in the Super Impose last time out.
He steps out this week fitter, third-up and is drawn to receive a lovely run under Jamie Mott.
2 Units Red Aces
Race 7 - 3:40pm AEDT
Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m)
Classy West Australian Oscar’s Fortune couldn’t have done a lot more without winning the Schillaci Stakes fresh from a break and he can go one better in the McEwen.
The Rich Enuff gelding has been excellent over in Perth since debuting, winning five of just eleven starts, placing as many times and finding form around some above-average talent.
He’s two from two at this point of his preparation and is my best bet on 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day.
4 Units Oscar’s Fortune
Race 8 - 4:20pm AEDT
Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m)
I’m eager to have something on Royal Champion second up in the Crystal Mile.
Royal Champion was excellent over in his native UK in the first part of his career, winning races like the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot and finding form around some of the better middle-distance horses of the Northern Hemisphere.
He was sent off a popular target in betting ahead of his Australian debut at Flemington earlier this month, and while he clearly needed the run, he was doing his best work late.
A mile and the booking of Mark Zahra are both ticks.
3 Units Royal Champion
Race 9 - 5:10pm AEDT
Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m)
The best race of the year is the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and nine of the best local and international weight-for-age horses will descend on the famous 2040m course on Saturday afternoon.
I am a big fan of Japanese horses and with that in mind, I think Prognosis is going to take beating this year.
Prognosis has hardly turned in a poor performance through fifteen career starts, winning seven times and placing a further five, while his form lines for a race like this one are elite.
Having finished second behind last year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate winner, Romantic Warrior, in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong in April, Prognosis was last seen finishing a credible fourth in the Group 2 Sapporo Kinen.
Damian Lane is booked, they’ve drawn ideally, I think Japan will take home their second ever Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
3 Units Prognosis
Race 10 - 5:50pm AEDT
Group 3 Tesio Stakes (2040m)
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in Saturday’s Tesio Stakes but I am going to have something on the third-up Private Legacy.
Private Legacy was low flying in the autumn of this year and went within a whisker of a Group 1 victory in the Australasian Oaks over 2000m at Morphettville most notably.
Have finished midfield behind the likes of Willaidow at Rosehill when resuming, the daughter of The Autumn Sun took big improvement into a near miss over a mile in the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
With further improvement and getting out to her pet trip, this looks a really nice target for her.
2 Units Private Legacy