Bruce McAvaney assesses the prospects of the main Cox Plate hopes

Legendary sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney has assessed the 2024 Cox Plate field ahead of this Saturday’s race at Moonee Valley.

In conversation with Gerard Whateley on SEN, McAvaney discussed the prospect of coronation for the winner and the potential fallout of the great Group 1 race.

Read his thoughts below:

Pride Of Jenni

How important is winning the Cox Plate for elevating the greatness of the mare?

“Absolutely crucial. She’ll always be affectionately remembered for a staggering improvement as a six-year-old,” said McAvaney.

“This time last year she hadn’t won a Group 1 race and had only started in three (Group 1s). She was not a Group 1 performer.

“Her rise to fame has been phenomenal.

“If she wins this then she’s deep in the heart of racing history. The affection we have for her is the most we’ve had for any horse since Winx, Makybe Diva and Black Caviar.

“They’re a class apart but this is the closest we’ve had to a horse that’s captured the nation’s attention and affection.

“I think the Cox Plate is crucial in terms of her legacy.”

Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Declan Bates
Career record: 33-8-9-3
Group 1 wins: 3
Prize money: $9,959,490

Mr Brightside

Does he need this major to round out his work of seven Group 1s?

“He does.

“I think he doesn’t get into the Hall of Fame unless he wins this. If he wins this he’s a real chance of being in the Hall of Fame.

“10 horses have finished second and come back and won the next year. 40 horses have tried it, so it’s been done a lot. So he’s in a territory that a lot have been before.

“There’s only horse that’s ever had a third attempt and won at their third attempt having not won previously and that’s Gunsynd. That’s where he’s at, it’s big stuff.

“He needs this to confirm that yes, he’s a champion. To get into the Hall of Fame, which is the ultimate, I think he has to win this race.”

Trainer: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Jockey: Craig Williams
Career record: 38-17-9-3
Group 1 wins: 7
Prize money: $14,338,080

Broadsiding

What is his reputation leading into this? What would a win do for his career?

“It’s become a very important race for sires, we know that.

“It does a lot for him internationally as a sire. It means they could shuttle him to the Northern Hemisphere comfortably.

“Commercially it’s incredibly important for him.

“In terms of his reputation as a race horse, he’d go down as one of the really outstanding three-year-olds to win a Cox Plate.

“Shamus Award was a maiden and then won an Australian Guineas as well, his only two wins. But Broadsiding would be in that Red Anchor type class if he were to win this because this is a very good field.

“It elevates him from very good to a great three-year-old.”

Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Career record: 9-5-0-2
Group 1 wins: 3
Prize money: $2,682,975

Via Sistina

After the drama of Tuesday morning and how a win will impact her legacy:

“Who knows how that is going to play out.

“It’s certainly not ideal. In fact, when it happened, you thought, ‘How can she race?

“Chris Waller is a genius, we know that, and James (McDonald) will get on and has been really happy with her.

“It would mean a fourth Group 1 in six Australian runs in such a short time. It would be quite an extraordinary performance by her.

“She was bought as a Group 1 winner for a lot of money by Zhang Yuesheng, the Yulong boss.

“For her, as a seven-year old mare, with not a lot of racing in front of her you’d think, this is probably her one Cox Plate, so this is her stab at a championships race where legends are made.

“It’s big for her and if she were to win this it leaves a lasting impression on Australian racing.”

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: James McDonald
Career record: 18-8-4-2
Group 1 wins: 4
Prize money: $3,696,914

Prognosis

How good it the Japanese and Hong Kong form?

“It’s strong. Is it as good as Lys Gracieux? It’s close, but she’d won that big Group 1 over a slightly longer journey.

“She went on to win the Arima Kinen beating Almond Eye, so she ended up being one of the great Japanese horses.

“This is a big race for him (Prognosis) because he hasn’t won a Group 1 and he’s been a bit unlucky. Romantic Warrior has had the better of him but it’s been circumstantial (jumping poorly).

“Romantic Warrior was not as his best when he won the Cox Plate last year, I reckon he was at 90 per cent. If this horse is at 100 per cent there’ll be no excuses.

“He doesn’t have to jump brilliantly, he just doesn’t need to miss it by two or three lengths.

“This a big chance for him. Japanese racing has a very strong reputation for staying horses. The reputation of their horses again goes on the line and they talk about how famous the Cox Plate is to Japanese people.

“And for Damian Lane, wouldn’t it be something. The confirmation for him the next time he goes back to ride in Japan, he’s even a bigger figure.”

Trainer: Mitsumasa Nakauchida
Jockey: Damian Lane
Career record: 15-7-3-2
Group 1 wins: 0
Prize money: $6,298,829

The other runners: Docklands, Evaporate, Kovalica, Royal Patronage.