Cox Plate favourite Prognosis ready to rumble at The Valley

Cox Plate favourites Prognosis and Via Sistina powered around The Valley in an ominous display ahead of next week’s race.

Cox Plate favourites Prognosis and Via Sistina powered around The Valley on Thursday in an ominous display ahead of Australia’s best race on October 26.

Japanese star Prognosis impressed under Cox Plate-winner Damian Lane with a slick piece of work “like he’s done it 20 times before”.

“He was out there mainly to get acquainted to the track and stretch his legs the last 200m,” Lane said.

“He handled the circuit no problem, changed leads (legs) like he’s done it 20 times before.”

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The multiple Group 1-placed son of super sire Deep Impact, trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, is a $4 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Cox Plate alongside Via Sistina.

Lane sealed Japan its first Cox Plate triumph in 2019 aboard Lys Gracieux.

“He’s a top liner, probably the easiest one to compare him to is Lys Gracieux,” Lane said.

“He’s not quite what she was at the same stage but he’s right up there with the handy ones.”

Prognosis has placed in three Group 1s, second twice to Hong Kong champion and reigning Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior and third behind Japanese freak Equinox.

“I know he’s going to be very competitive (in the Cox Plate), he’s a good horse,” Lane said.

“We just need things to go right on the day and he’s going to be very competitive.”

Damian Lane aboard Prognosis during trackwork at Moonee Valley. Picture: George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Horse whisperer Julien Welsh, well-regarded thoroughbred educator, has been working with Prognosis at Werribee to iron out the seven-year-old’s barrier manners.

Prognosis has a tendency to get hot behind the barriers and step slow from the gates.

“Julien Welsh has been giving us a hand out there, so we’re very appreciative of that,” Lane said.

“Hopefully we can get him in the right frame of mind for the barriers on Cox Plate Day.”

Lane said Prognosis would be suited by a fast-run Cox Plate courtesy of Pride Of Jenni.

“He’s got good sustained speed, he’s shown in races previously he can run good sectionals for a long period,” Lane said.

UK import Docklands also galloped strongly on Thursday under champion jockey Blake Shinn.

“He handled The Valley no problem at all, which is a great sign,” Shinn said.

“I feel after today’s work he can absorb pressure, it was a good gallop today and the further we got the better he was.”

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Docklands is a $13 chance with Ladbrokes.

“He’s going to be competitive, his form shows he’s going to be competitive, his international form and ratings are pretty high,” Shinn said.

“It’s one of the best Cox Plates we’ve seen for a number of years, it’s not going to be easy to win but he’s going to make his presence felt.”

Barring any Caulfield Cup or King Charles III Stakes’ runners a “quality over quantity” six-horse field is slated for the Cox Plate, including Mr Brightside and Broadsiding.

The Valley’s racing boss Charlotte Mills welcomed the star-studded turnout on Thursday.

“Great for everyone to see these internationals at The Valley for the first time and take it so well,” Mills said.

“Docklands looked confident and to see Prognosis with such a sense of domination, he took our home turn very well.

“For us it fills us with a lot of confidence, he’s the right horse (for the Cox Plate), it was worth the four-month pitch to get him.”

Originally published as Cox Plate favourite Prognosis ready to rumble at The Valley