The 2015 W.S. Cox Plate will be an intriguing contest. The race has changed in recent times, with a renewed focus being placed on inviting quality internationals over to run in the 2040-metre contest.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) realised that the Cox Plate needed to be revitalised, with a distinct drop in quality of local contenders.
Many of Australia’s or New Zealand’s successful young horses are retired to stud, or sold to race in Hong Kong or Singapore. This affects the depth of future runnings and prevents champions taking each other on year after year, like Sunline and Northerly have in the past.
These falling standards culminated in the triumph of Shamus Award, a high-class colt, but a maiden at the time of running.
The MVRC aim to attract international performers through ballot-free invitations and travel reimbursements and incentives. This strategy has been successful, with five internationals running the past two years. Adelaide’s barnstorming victory vindicated the expedition, with the incomparable Ryan Moore steering him to victory.
But for every high, you receive a horse like Guest of Honour or Mill of Killough, who clearly aren’t up to Cox Plate standard. It’s the MVRC’s prerogative to ensure they get this balance right.
The MVRC have been blessed with a host of A-grade racehorses (albeit without a standout) targeting the Cox Plate. They will face a great dilemma selecting the composition of the race.
Three internationals are guaranteed a place in this year’s Cox Plate field; Arod, Gailo Chop and Highland Reel. While all three are classy racehorses, there is a high likelihood that at least two locally trained Group 1 winners will be balloted out of the race, if there isn’t an attrition rate.
Gailo Chop is a quality stallion who will acquit himself well in the Cox Plate, but the question is whether he has earnt an automatic run in the race as a non-Group 1 winning horse?
If a Group 1 winning horse is resigned to being an emergency, will his inclusion into the race at the expense of others be a major talking point? Will it be justified?
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