Can the full brother to the 2018 Caulfield Cup winner take out this year’s Cox Plate?
The field and barrier draw is out for the $5million Group I MVRC Cox Plate (2040m) with a fascinating field featuring last year’s runner-up Anamoe and the exciting Chris Waller trained import El Bodegon (IRE).
By outstanding speed sire Kodiac, El Bodegon is a full brother to Godolphin’s dual Group I winner Best Solution, who came to Australia in 2018 and won the Group I MRC Caulfield Cup.
Like his famous full brother, El Bodegon has established himself as a serious Group I performer.
He started five times last year at two and finished his season with a win in the Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (2000m).
Returning as a three year-old this year he was second in the Group I Prix du Jockey Club over 2100m behind superstar colt Vadeni and has been third at his last two starts in Group company over 2400m behind top class Frankel colt Onesto and Deauville Legend, who will run in the Melbourne Cup.
El Bodegon has only missed a place once in nine starts and 2000m would appear to be his best trip with his gallop at The Valley this morning also inspiring confidence.
The Cox Plate field and barrier draw is:
No – Horse – Sire - Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight
1 – ZAAKI (GB) Leroidesanimaux – Annabel Neasham – Jamie Kah – 1 – 59kg
2 – I‘M THUNDERSTRUCK (NZ) Shocking – Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) – Mark Zahra – 10 – 59kg
3 – ALLIGATOR BLOOD (AUS) All too Hard– Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Tim Clark – 12 – 59kg
4 – MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) – Bullbars Ben & JD Hayes Craig Williams – 11 – 59kg
5 – MO‘UNGA (NZ) Savabeel – Annabel Neasham Nash Rawiller – 9 – 59kg
6 – GOLD TRIP (FR) Outstrip– Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – TBA – 7 – 59kg
7 – LAWS OF INDICES (IRE) Power– Annabel Neasham – John Allen – 3 – 59kg
8 – YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) Tavistock – Danny O‘Brien – Damian Lane – 2 – 59kg
9 – MAXIMAL (GB) Galileo – John O‘Shea – Ben Melham – 5 – 59kg
10 – ANAMOE (AUS) Street Boss (USA)– James Cummings – James McDonald – 4 – 57.5kg
11 – PROFONDO (AUS)–Deep Impact - Richard Litt – Chad Schofield – 6 – 57.5kg
12 – EL BODEGON (IRE) Kodiac– Chris Waller – Damien Oliver – 8 – 56.5kg