Nick Williams @NCW717 on Buckhurst being dumped from field – 'I am in shock and I find it extraordinary to be honest, there are a couple of horses there that should be well behind Buckhurst." More on @RacenetTweets @heraldsunsport soon
— Ben Dorries (@bendorries76) October 19, 2020
Cox Plate 2020 barrier draw: Mixed results for local hopes Russian Camelot and Arcadia Queen
Local hopes Russian Camelot and Arcadia Queen have had contrasting fortunes at the Cox Plate barrier draw while the internationals came out on top. But trainer Danny O'Brien showed no signs of concern heading into Saturday's race.
Trainer Danny O’Brien has been through the scenario of drawing bad gates in big races in the recent past.
Vow And Declare jumped from barrier 21 but managed to overcome the draw to win last year’s Melbourne Cup. O’Brien knows it can be done.
That’s why he won’t make a big deal of favourite Russian Camelot drawing the outside barrier in Saturday’s Cox Plate. Russian Camelot will start the $5 million race from barrier 14 if the emergency Buckhurst doesn’t gain a start.
“I understand why people talk about barrier draws because there’s not much left to talk (about) between now and the race.” O’Brien said.
“We drew 22 in the Melbourne Cup last year, and it was the same thing. Barriers are much overrated or discussed as to why horses win or don’t win races.”
TAB turned his Cox Plate price out from $4 to $4.50 after Tuesday’s barrier draw.
But O’Brien said he won’t change his plan to leave tactics up to champion jockey Damien Oliver in Saturday’s $5 million race.
“I’ll put Damien on the horse, and he’ll go to the barriers, and Damien will ride the horse. That’s why you have the jockey,” O’Brien said.
“You don’t worry about how it’s going to pan out if you’ve got an outstanding rider on the horse.
“We’ve certainly got that.”
Russian Camelot won the Underwood Stakes over Humidor and Arcadia Queen before Arcadia Queen comfortably reversed the result in the Caulfield Stakes at their last meeting.
That result pushed Arcadia Queen into second favourite in TAB’s Cox Plate market. O’Brien said he expected the Perth mare to start favourite in Saturday’s weight-for-age championship.
However, O’Brien said he expected a different scenario to play out with more pace likely in the Cox Plate.
“She certainly showed that she’s right back to her best there in the Caulfield Stakes, and her best is very, very good,” O’Brien said.
“I’d expect her to start favourite on the day. We’re hoping a few factors can turn around the result in the Caulfield Stakes. We’re very respectful of the task to beat her.”
“Whatever happens it won’t be nearly as slowly run as what the Caulfield Stakes was.”
Russian Camelot did not gallop at The Valley on Tuesday morning but did have a look at the circuit last Saturday morning.
Arcadia Queen completed her Cox Plate preparation with a 1200m gallop at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast With The Best session, which Williams said was a bit more lively than recent trips to the Valley.
“When she came here last time she was probably more relaxed but it was a bit quieter than this morning,” Williams, who trains Arcadia Queen in partnership with his wife Alana, said.
“It’s good today because there’s lots of horses, people around. It’s definitely going to help her.
“They’ve got to go through the tunnel (out of the mounting yard). You could see her get a bit excited today so just on Saturday, she’d have done it before and will hopefully be a bit more relaxed.”
After 15 acceptors were declared this morning, the MVRC committee made the shock call to relegate the Lloyd Williams-owned raider Buckhurst as the emergency.
Buckhurst ran seventh in the Caulfield Cup last week and three starts back won the Group 3 Alleged Stakes in Ireland over Sir Dragonet, who is rated a $9 chance in the Cox Plate.
The connections of Nettoyer and Master Of Wine both waited until after trackwork before accepting after a late-entry fee was paid for three-year-old colt Grandslam.
The other internationals in the 14-horse field all drew well with Aspetar to jump out of barrier three with Magic Wand next to him in four, while Sir Dragonet landed seven.
Updates
THE BETTING
Here's the updated Cox Plate market:
1. Kolding $17
2. Humidor $26
3. Fierce Impact $34
4. Master Of Wine $34
5. Mugatoo $26
6. Aspeta $13
7. Sir Dragonet $9
8. Magic Wand $26
9. Arcadia Queen $5
10. Nettoyer $101
11. Russian Camelot $4.50 fav
12. Armory $5
13. Probabeel $11
14. Grandslam $26
15. Buckhurst (1E) $51
Here are some of the key statistics of the last 20 years for the Cox Plate by saddlecloth numbers, barrier, sex/type and price.
Saddlecloth number:
No.1 has won the race three times, while numbers 2, 8, 11 and 14 have won twice.
Barriers:
The winner has jumped out of barrier 6 four times.
Horses from barriers 3, 5 and 7 have triumphed three times.
Sex/Type:
Mares have dominated with eight winners, mainly thanks to Winx winning four of them. Last year’s winner Lys Gracieux was also a mare.
Age:
The most winners have been six-year-olds with seven.
COX PLATE STATS
Here are some of the key statistics of the last 20 years for the Cox Plate by saddlecloth numbers, barrier, sex/type and price.
Saddlecloth number:
No.1 has won the race three times, while numbers 2, 8, 11 and 14 have won twice.
Barriers:
The winner has jumped out of barrier 6 four times.
Horses from barriers 3, 5 and 7 have triumphed three times.
Sex/Type:
Mares have dominated with eight winners, mainly thanks to Winx winning four of them. Last year’s winner Lys Gracieux was also a mare.
Age:
The most winners have been six-year-olds with seven.
1. Kolding 10
2. Humidor 14
3. Fierce Impact 12
4. Master Of Wine 1
5. Mugatoo 9
6. Aspetar 3
7. Sir Dragonet 7
8. Magic Wand 4
9. Arcadia Queen 8
10. Nettoyer 13
11. Russian Camelot 15
12. Armory 6
13. Probabeel 2
14. Grandslam 5
15. Buckhurst (emg) 11
FINAL FIELD AND BARRIERS
1. Kolding 10
2. Humidor 14
3. Fierce Impact 12
4. Master Of Wine 1
5. Mugatoo 9
6. Aspetar 3
7. Sir Dragonet 7
8. Magic Wand 4
9. Arcadia Queen 8
10. Nettoyer 13
11. Russian Camelot 15
12. Armory 6
13. Probabeel 2
14. Grandslam 5
15. Buckhurst (emg) 11
Humidor – barrier 14
Russian Camelot – barrier 15
Nettoyer – barrier 13
Fierce Impact – barrier 12