Short 2015 Cox Plate Form Guide

The 2015 Cox Plate form guide is key reading in the lead-up to the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship, but it can often be confusing for inexperienced punters that just want to find the winner of the race.

Preferment is one of several horses that is set to take winning form into the 2015 Turnbull Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Preferment is one of several horses that is set to take winning form into the 2015 Turnbull Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

We have done the hard for you and complied the key information that you need to know about every horse in the 2015 Cox Plate field.

Criterion – He is the proven weight-for-age performer in this field and he will be very tough to beat if he is able to replicate the level of performance that he produced in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes earlier in the year.

Fawkner – The Reset gelding finished a very close second behind Adelaide in the Cox Plate last year, but there are question marks over how well he is going this preparation following his very flat effort behind Criterion in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes.

Happy Trails – Happy Trails was only narrowly denied by Criterion in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes and he rarely runs a bad race, but he might still need to find another length of improvement to win this year’s Cox Plate.

Hartnell – The BMW winner has only had two race starts this preparation and it is tough to know what to make of his performances in the Chelmsford Stakes and the Turnbull Stakes.

Mourinho – The veteran gelding is clearly racing at career best form and his win in the Underwood Stakes was very impressive, but he simply does not have the talent required to win the Cox Plate.

The Cleaner – The Cleaner was only narrowly denied a maiden Group 1 victory in the Underwood Stakes and he loves Moonee Valley, but it is going to be tough for him to hold-off his rivals in the final stages of the Cox Plate.

Pornichet – The Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper stamped himself as a Cox Plate contender with his win in the Doomben Cup and he made a solid start to his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but he was very poor in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes and it is tough to see him bouncing back this afternoon.

Arod – Arod is a genuine world class performer that has form around Solow – who is rightly considered one of the best horses in the world – and he is a very good chance in the Cox Plate if he is able to run out a strong 2040 metres.

Complacent – Godolphin have done an outstanding job getting Complacent back to his best form during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he was probably better suited in the Caulfield Cup then he is at weight-for-age.

Gailo Chop – Gailo Chop has flown under the radar ahead of the Cox Plate, but he is another horse that has form around Solow and he could be the best roughie in the field.

Kermadec – He was slightly disappointing when beaten as favourite in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes, but he is still a horse with a great deal of talent that will be hitting the line strongly in the final stages.

Preferment – The Victoria Derby winner took out the Hill Stakes and the Turnbull Stakes in impressive fashion, but he faces a much tougher assignment at weight-for-age and the Melbourne Cup is his main assignment.

Highland Reel – Highland Reel looks as though he could be an even better horse than last year’s Cox Plate winner Adelaide and he is set to receive an ideal run into the race when he jumps from barrier four.

Winx – The star mare has been easily the best-backed runner in the Cox Plate betting markets and there is no doubt that she has plenty of talent, but she faces the toughest assignment of her racing career to date this afternoon.

For more information on every horse in the field head over to our Complete 2015 Cox Plate Form Guide.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.