Internationals get first look at The Valley ahead of Cox Plate

Star Japanese galloper Prognosis was given a look at the Moonee Valley circuit with race jockey Damian Lane in the saddle ahead of Australia’s weight-for-age championship, the Cox Plate.

The $4 favourite for the Group 1 2040m showpiece, made the trip from where he has been stabled at Werribee after completing quarantine with fellow Cox Plate contender Docklands for a hit-out on Thursday morning.

Lane said Prognosis handled The Valley circuit without a concern and importantly changed his lead leg a number of times, as though he had been around the track numerous times.

“He’s a topliner,” Lane said.

“The easiest one to compare him to is Lys Gracieux. He’s not quite what she was at the same stage, but he’s right up there with the handy ones.

“He’s got good, sustained speed which he has shown previously in that he can run good sectionals for a long period which I think he will need to do on Cox Plate Day.”

Lane knows what it takes to win the Cox Plate having partnered Lys Gracieux in 2019.

And Lane likes the fact Pride Of Jenni will be in the Cox Plate on Saturday week ensuring the race will be run at a solid tempo, just as in Prognosis’ races are back in Japan.

The burning question was whether Lane thought Prognosis was capable of winning the Cox Plate 2024 on Saturday week, to which Lane’s answer was a brief ‘Yes’.

While Prognosis is the $4 betting sites favourite in pre-post Cox Plate markets, fellow Werribee quarantine traveller Docklands is a $15 chance but impressed in-form jockey Blake Shinn with the way he handled The Valley on Thursday.

“I liked his work, and he handled The Valley not problem at all which is a great sign,” Shinn said.

“He’s a gentleman to ride. A cool, calm, relaxed customer and I feel after the gallop that he can absorb pressure.

“It was a good gallop today and the further we got into it, the better he got.”

A horse that comes from off the pace, Shinn said Docklands would enjoy the pressure Pride Of Jenni would put into the Cox Plate.

“I think at this stage it will be a hard, fast Cox Plate, which could play into his hands,” Shinn said.

“I think he can be competitive. His international form and ratings are pretty high, but it’s one of the best Cox Plate’s we’ve seen for a number of years, so it won’t be easy to win, but he will make his presence felt.”