Crowds set to bring colour and drama to 2024 Cox Plate

A sold-out crowd of 22,000 fans is expected to flock to Saturday’s Cox Plate, with the chief of Moonee Valley Racing boldly declaring it will be “the best race in the country this year”.

Olympic swimmer Shayna Jack with Docklands ahead of the Cox Plate on Saturday. Picture: David Caird

A capacity Cox Plate crowd will salute one of the great days in sport on Saturday as the winds of change approach the equine amphitheatre that is The Valley.

A sold-out crowd of 22,000 fans is expected for the 104th running of the $5m WS Cox Plate (2040m), with fine weather and a stunning series of storylines.

Moonee Valley Racing Club chief executive Michael Browell was so excited about the main race field he boldly declared the Cox Plate would be “the best race in the country this year”.

“There are a few different storylines, there are many different angles of the race which are quite fascinating this year,” he said. “It will be the race of the spring carnival again, I’m certain of that.

“We did have those two years where there were no crowds because of Covid, so it’s been good to be able to welcome them back.”

Among the potential dramatic scripts will be Japanese raider Prognosis starting as race favourite, and Mr Brightside’s shot at redemption after his close second last year.

Via Sistina, who threw jockey James McDonald and ran two laps solo in a dramatic ­incident at trackwork on Tuesday, could hand J-Mac a third-straight Cox Plate.

And trainer James Cummings’ colt Broadsiding is looking to stamp himself as the new star of the turf.

Ollie Dempsey with the Cox Plate. Picture: Instagram

But Mr Browell said all eyes would be on the likely tearaway leader Pride Of Jenni.

“It shapes up as a fascinating Cox Plate this year with a horse that might be leading by 15 lengths, 1000m from home,” he said.

“If this place did have a lid on it, I reckon the roar of the crowd when she is that far in front would actually lift it off.”

Despite new Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga promising to shelve plans for a $250m grandstand at Caulfield, Mr Browell said he was “fully committed” to a new stand and track at The Valley.

“The 2025 Cox Plate carnival will be the final race meeting of the current configuration,” he said.

“We are finalising plans at the moment with a company that we hope to sign a contact with in the next few weeks that will build the new Valley.

“We are doing the final ­detailed design works and costings.”

The Herald Sun on Friday revealed the format of the Cox Plate carnival would be reviewed to determine whether it was a one or two-day event.

Shayna Jack cuddles up with Cox Plate fancy, Docklands. Picture: David Caird

Mr Browell said a company had been appointed to grow and lay turf for The Valley of the future, with work to start next month.

“So we are fully committed to the redevelopment here, which will kick off in 53 weeks,” he said.

On Saturday, Thirsty Merc will fire up the crowd with a rendition of Daryl Braithwaite’s Horses pre-race and a concert after the last.

While most sports were aiming for younger audiences, Mr Browell said The Valley proudly embraced its all-ages appeal.

“You look around the crowd that will be on course on Saturday, there will be plenty of people from 18 up to 80,” he said.

“It’s a race that appeals to a very broad cross-section of the community.”

Olympian Shayna Jack to make a splash

After promising her coach she would stay grounded in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, Shayna Jack is excited to embrace horses again.

The swimming gold medallist will be at the Ladbrokes Cox Plate on Saturday with her eyes on the Harry Eustace-trained international Docklands.

“I recreationally ride and enjoy being up close with animals,’’ Jack said.

“In Noosa I’ve got a beautiful clydesdale cross thoroughbred and I love him. I originally fell in love with a horse named Keith. I haven’t ridden for two years, there was no risk taking — a deal with my coach. It’s amazing being up close with horses, I truly think that animals have that intellectual sense with people and just can see any healing that you might need and I really do love being with them.”

Jack is excited to embrace the world of horses again. Picture: David Caird

Jack says it’s been a “whirlwind of excitement” since the Paris Games where she achieved sweet redemption after serving a doping ban and fighting to clear her name. Her partner, hockey star Joel Rintala, has since proposed at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

“I haven’t actually had time to sit and reflect, especially with me, the last five years and everything that’s happened and the rollercoaster ride that I’ve been through,’’ she said.

“For me I’ve been embracing and taking every opportunity that I can because I am someone that believes you don’t know you don’t like something until you try it so I’ve wanted to put myself out there and experience new things.

“And explore myself as a person and who Shayna Jack is. I think that’s really valuable and me being an Olympian and having the amazing accolades that myself and the rest of the team came home with is so phenomenal. But I want people to see me as the person, Shayna Jack, and in a way I want to give back to the community because I wouldn’t be there without them.”