A field of nine will contest the 97th edition of Australasia's weight-for-age championship in Saturday's $3 million Group I William Hill Cox Plate (2040m).
Champion mare Winx is attempting to emulate the great Kingston Town with a third win in the nation's most electrifying contest run at Australia's most unique racetrack.
Winx is chasing her 22nd straight win and will start from barrier six after her part-owner Peter Tighe was the fifth connection of a runner tochoose the barrier.
Starting positions two, three, four and five had already been filled.
"I'm just doing as I'm told," Tighe said when asked why he chose barrier six.
"I think my friend over there Hugh (Bowman) would be happy with that barrier. That was the plan to get something out there."
Tony McEvoy's sole three-year-old in the race, Royal Symphony will start on the outside of Winx in gate seven.
In 2017 there are two international runners, Cranbourne Cup winner Folkswood and the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Kaspersky. They will start from barriers five and two respectively.
Below is the field and barrier draw for the Cox Plate.
No |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Barrier |
Weight |
1 |
HAPPY CLAPPER |
Patrick Webster |
Damien Oliver |
9 |
59kg |
2 |
GAILO CHOP |
Darren Weir |
Mark Zahra |
4 |
59kg |
3 |
HUMIDOR |
Darren Weir |
TBA |
8 |
59kg |
4 |
KASPERSKY (IRE) |
Jane Chapple-Hyam |
Michelle Payne |
2 |
59kg |
5 |
FOLKSWOOD (GB) |
Charlie Appleby |
Kerrin McEvoy |
5 |
59kg |
6 |
SEABURGE |
David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
Regan Bayliss |
1 |
57.5kg |
7 |
HARDHAM |
David Brideoake |
Luke Nolen |
3 |
57.5kg |
8 |
WINX |
Chris Waller |
Hugh Bowman |
6 |
57kg |
9 |
ROYAL SYMPHONY |
Tony McEvoy |
Dean Yendall |
7 |
49.5kg |