Jimmy Choux is one of 37 horses in the Cox Plate Third Declarations
37 horses remain in contention for this year’s Cox Plateafter third declarations were released today.
Included in the list of Cox Plate hopeful’s is John Bary’s Jimmy Choux, who won his last start in the Group 1 Spring Stakes at Hastings by almost two lengths.
The trainer said the four-year-old appears to be yearning for the different race environment that the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley would provide.
“I think he’s looking for a change of scenery, to be honest,” Bary said.
“I think he’s a bit bored running around his home track. He’s a good traveller who thrives on the road, so we’re looking forward to jumping on the plane.”
Bary would like to ensure Jimmy Choux stays closer to the pace in the $3 million Cox Plate after getting a long way back in his last run.
“I was a bit worried at the 800m that he was too far off and in an ideal world you wouldn’t want to be that far off them in a Cox Plate,” Bary said.
“But he’s proven in the past he’s versatile enough to race a bit closer. We’re not too concerned.”
The Thorn Park entire is said to have recovered well from last weekend’s race.
“He knew he’d had a run,” Bary said.
“But we put him in the paddock a couple of hours later and he was good as gold.”
While Bary is confident Jimmy Choux can trounce his Cox plate opposition later this month, he expects he will be feeling the nerves on race day.
“You worry about it on the day, don’t you?” he said.
Last start winner Toorak Toff has remained as an unexpected third acceptor for this year’s Cox Plate after his trainer Rick Hore-Lacy recently ruled out a run in the race.
“He definitely won’t run in the Cox Plate,” Hore-Lacy said after the horse won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
“He’s a sprinter miler.
“The best stallions are sprinter milers and I think this horse is going to be a wonderful stallion so the program will be the Toorak, the Waterford Crystal Mile and the Emirates Stakes, all two weeks apart.”
Also remaining in the Cox Plate acceptances are Absolutely, Americain, King’s Rose, My Kingdom OF Fife, Sincero, Smart Missile and Whobegotyou.
