Waller and McDonald chase Cox Plate milestones
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Saturday’s Cox Plate will be staged at Flemington for the first time because Moonee Valley is undergoing major redevelopment, and the 2040-metre Group 1 carries A$6 million in prize money. Chris Waller will rely on Sunshine Lady, the only mare in the 12-horse field, as he tries to secure a seventh Cox Plate and draw level with the all-time training record. James McDonald has been booked for Sunshine Lady and is chasing a fifth consecutive win in the race after victories from 2022 through 2025. The pace could be strong, with Ciaron Maher’s front-runners Lightly Won and Riverine Runner drawn widest in barriers 11 and 12
Key Points
- The 12-runner Cox Plate at Flemington on October 24 is worth A$6 million and is scheduled as Hong Kong overseas race card Race 8 at 2:10pm
- Maher will also run former European stayers Middle Earth and Saint George, but Lightly Won and Riverine Runner are expected to inject early speed
- Seven-year-old Riverine Runner upset the Caulfield Stakes over 2000 metres last start after leading throughout and holding off the fast-finishing Red Glamour Proof
- Lightly Won was second in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000 metres at Flemington after leading, only to be caught late by Stellar Drive
- Sunshine Lady finished third in that same race, switches to McDonald on Saturday, and was sixth of eight in last year’s Cox Plate under Hugh Bowman
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong racing followers, the race carries extra interest because McDonald won the 2023 Cox Plate aboard Hong Kong-trained Romantic Warrior and now returns with another major milestone in sight. The Flemington switch, likely rain and a pace-heavy map also make this a race in which tactics and track conditions could be decisive for punters watching from Hong Kong