Japanese star Prognosis’ Cox Plate bid inspired by Romantic Warrior’s success last year
Romantic Warrior’s win in the Cox Plate encouraged the connections of Japanese star Prognosis to take up the challenge this year.
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Cox Plate challenger Prognosis will enter quarantine on Friday in Tokyo as the countdown to Australia’s best race at The Valley ramps up for Japanese breeding giant Shadai Farm.
Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior’s success in the Cox Plate last year inspired Shadai to target the Australasian weight-for-age championship on October 26.
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Three-time Group 2 winner Prognosis has been runner-up twice at the highest level behind globetrotter Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin, including a narrow defeat last April.
Shadai Farm executive vice president Tetsuya Yoshida said the Cox Plate would not be an easy race for Prognosis to win.
“As everyone knows, Romantic Warrior is very strong horse but even he just managed to win at Cox Plate in 2023,” Yoshida said.
“I believe Prognosis is also top level in the same race category as Romantic Warrior that’s why I decided to run him this year.”
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Prognosis is a $5 second favourite with TAB for the Cox Plate behind Via Sistina ($4).
Pride Of Jenni ($9), Broadsiding ($9) and last year’s Cox Plate runner-up Mr Brightside ($9) are the top five in the all-in market.
Shadai last week confirmed Prognosis would take up an invitation from Moonee Valley Racing Club to contest the Cox Plate.
“I understand Australian horses have top handicaps and levels, I know Prognosis will not be easy to win this race,” Yoshida said.
“I hope he will be a good race if he shows his strongest point (the last turn of foot), I think he has a chance to win by using his strongest point.”
Mitsumasa Nakauchida-trained Prognosis, a lightly-raced six-year-old entire, is set to be the first Shadai Race Horse Ltd-owned galloper to race in Australia.
Yoshida, whose father Teruya owns Shadai Farm and raced Heart’s Cry, a Group 1 winner in Japan and Dubai, is hopeful Prognosis could build on Japan’s racing legacy in Australia.
His uncle Katsumi, Northern Farm owner, bred and raced 2006 Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues.
Northern Farm also bred Caulfield Cup winners Admire Rakti (2014) and Mer De Glace (2019), along with 2019 Cox Plate champion Lys Gracieux.
“All Japanese horsemen are honoured to attend (Australian races) as a challenger,” Yoshida said.
“This is the first time (in Australia) for Shadai Farm, so I have mixed feelings of anticipation and apprehension.
“I would like it to be a meaningful challenge, to be continuously recognised Japanese horses are world-level and high quality.”
Jockey Damian Lane, who piloted Mer De Glace and Lys Gracieux to victory, is booked to ride Prognosis in the Cox Plate.
Lane has a strong connection with Japanese racing, having ridden successfully in the country over several seasons.
The reigning Melbourne premiership jockey has won major races for Japan in Hong Kong, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Lane won the Group 2 UAE Derby on Crown Pride in 2022 for Shadai Farm.
“I have confidence in (Lane) because he is one of the top jockeys in Japan and Australia,” Yoshida said.
Originally published as Japanese star Prognosis’ Cox Plate bid inspired by Romantic Warrior’s success last year
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