Champion trainer Chris Waller has two live chances to make five consecutive wins in the Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Kings Will Dream, above, is one of two runners for trainer Chris Waller in the 2019 Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Waller has saddled up his super star mare Winx to win the last four Cox Plates and this year he has Kings Will Dream and Verry Elleegant to try to keep the winning momentum going in the weight for age championship.
“We have two runners in the Cox Plate. We have Verry Elleegant, who is a four year old hoping to go to a new level but it is not going to be easy,” Waller said.
“She has drawn very well, should get a lovely run and I think the pressure of a Cox Plate might actually suit.”
“She has been off the bridle chasing a long way from home in her races but I think in a Cox Plate where they build from the 1000m might actually suit her.”
“I think that it will be a true staying test for her.”
Verry Elleegant was the star staying filly of the 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival with Group 1 wins in the $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and in the $1m Heineken 3 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick was back in the winner’s stall last start in the Group 2 $500,000 Sky Racing Active Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
James McDonald will stick with Verry Elleegant who is likely to jump from barrier four and is marked at $16 for the Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Kings Will Dream was back in the Group 1 winner’s stall last start in the $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 5 and has Hugh Bowman taking over the reins from Jye McNeil in the Cox Plate.
Kings Will Dream was out of luck at the barrier draw and will jump from gate thirteen when the field of fourteen is finalised on Saturday morning and is marked as a $20 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au.
“We also have Kings Will Dream,” Waller said.
“He is a Group 1 winner at his last start and we all know the story there where he pulled up sore after the race last year and the team has done a great job prior to him coming to me and obviously my team have got him back to his best form again.”
“He has drawn a bit wide and will need all of Hugh’s expertise to get him home.”
“You have to get into the right part of the track at the right time and that is what we will be trying to do with Kings Will Dream.”
The Japanese star Lys Gracieux will jump from gate eleven if none of the four emergencies gain a start and will be ridden by Caulfield Cup winning jockey Damian Lane.
Lys Gracieux is the dominant $3.60 Cox Plate favourite ahead of Mystic Journey at $7 and the three year old Castelvecchio at $8.
Betting for the 2019 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.60 Lys Gracieux, $7 Mystic Journey, $8 Castelvecchio, $11 Avilius, $13 Cape Of Good Hope, $14 Magic Wand, $16 Verry Elleegant, Te Akau Shark, $17 Danceteria, $19 Kluger, $2o Kings Will Dream, $21 Homesman, $26 Black Heart Bart, $31 Mr Quickie, $34 Humidor, $51 Harlem, $61 Gailo Chop, $81 Dream Castle.
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