Cox Plate 2020: Quiet Valley to suit Arcadia Queen
Arcadia Queen is set to relish a Cox Plate without crowds at The Valley after tuning up for the $5m race with a solid gallop around the tight-turning track on Tuesday.
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Silence could be golden for Perth mare Arcadia Queen in Saturday’s Cox Plate.
The Cox Plate is famous for an electric atmosphere with The Valley forming an amphitheatre in which crowds are within metres of the horses as they do battle in the weight-for-age championship.
However, COVID-19 restrictions will render The Valley all but silent for the 100th Cox Plate.
Arcadia Queen’s co-trainer Grant Williams said the quiet could suit Arcadia Queen on Saturday but the unusual surrounds won’t worry the five-year-old.
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.”
Arcadia Queen is a $5 second pick in Cox Plate betting after she rolled the favourite Russian Camelot in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last time out.
Williams said the dual Group 1 winner had continued to thrive since that outing and would have no excuses in the Cox Plate.
“She’s probably pulled up the best out of her last run,” Williams said.
“Hopefully, everything is just starting to work out for her. We’re getting to the grand final, so I couldn’t be happier with her.
"I couldn't be happier with her."
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 19, 2020
Arcadia Queen is primed for her @CoxPlate test according to Grant Williams. pic.twitter.com/xEvNbxKVnQ
“I’ll get her home and give her a little bit more work on Thursday and then come here and have no excuses.”
Williams said he wanted a barrier inside six for Arcadia Queen but she drew barrier eight. He said overcoming the draw was now the task of jockey William Pike.
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Originally published as Cox Plate 2020: Quiet Valley to suit Arcadia Queen