Cox Plate second favourite Zaaki will jump from barrier one after connections received a plum draw when the field was finalised by the Moonee Valley Racing Club on Tuesday morning.
The 12-horse field was ratified by the committee for Saturday’s $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate when they accepted the nominations for the weight-for-age feature.
Just one international horse has made the field — El Bodegon, a $7 shot, who has joined Chris Waller’s stable from Ireland after winning a Group 1 race, the $127,545 Prix Criterium De Saint-Cloud in France.
Young Werther was the first horse drawn to select a barrier and connections quickly elected to jump from number two.
Zaaki ($4.40) was next and connections chose barrier one, before race favourite Anamoe ($2.40) was drawn in gate four.
Profondo, a $51 shot with online bookies, has drawn the blessed barrier six, which has launched the last two Cox Plate winners — State Of Rest and Sir Dragonet.
Alligator Blood ($21 with Ladbrokes), who has returned to form in recent times, was the last horse drawn and will jump from barrier 12.
Final Cox Plate field and barrier draw
- ZAAKI – Annabel Neasham – Jamie Kah – 1 – 59kg ($4.40)
- I‘M THUNDERSTRUCK – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr – Mark Zahra – 10 – 59kg ($13)
- ALLIGATOR BLOOD – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Tim Clark – 12 – 59kg ($21)
- MR BRIGHTSIDE – Ben & JD Hayes – Craig Williams – 11 – 59kg ($17)
- MO‘UNGA – Annabel Neasham – Nash Rawiller – 9 – 59kg ($31)
- GOLD TRIP – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – TBA – 7 – 59kg ($21)
- LAWS OF INDICES – Annabel Neasham – John Allen – 3 – 59kg ($26)
- YOUNG WERTHER – Danny O‘Brien – Damian Lane – 2 – 59kg ($31)
- MAXIMAL – John O‘Shea – Ben Melham – 5 – 59kg ($51)
- ANAMOE – James Cummings – James McDonald – 4 – 57.5kg ($2.40)
- PROFONDO – Richard Litt – Chad Schofield – 6 – 57.5kg ($51)
- EL BODEGON – Chris Waller – Damien Oliver – 8 – 56.5kg ($7)
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