The 2015 Cox Plate barrier draw was conducted at Moonee Valley this morning and the Godolphin duo of Complacent and Hartnell both drew ideally for the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship.
Hartnell is one of two Godolphin-owned horses that have been included in the 2015 Cox Plate field. Photo by: Steve Hart
Complacent missed out on a run in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) last weekend, but he was assured of a start in the Cox Plate following the withdrawal of stablemate Contributer and he will jump from barrier six, while Hartnell will be given the chance to take up a position towards the tail of the field when he starts from gate four.
Assistant trainer Darren Beadman believes that Complacent is set to receive an ideal run into the race and he hopeful that the inside draw will help Hartnell to settle in the early stages of the Cox Plate and not over race like he did in both the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) and the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m),
“It was good to get out of the gates early and have quite a few selections,” Beadman said at the Cox Plate barrier draw.
“Complacent was the first cab off the rank and it looks an ideal type of gate for him.
“Last start he had a gear addition with the ear muffs on.
“Being by Authorized he has been a little bit hot and in the Chelmsford he was on the speed on the bridle and just really out of his racing pattern.
“When he first came to Australia he was a different horse, but one prep really switched him on.
“John (O’Shea) put the muffs on last start and rode him quite and we have just been tinkering with the gear with him – he will wear the muffs to the gate but then they will come off before the race.
“We are trying to condense that noise and it will be enough to switch them on.”
It looked as though there would be 15 horses in the Cox Plate acceptances and the Moonee Valley Racing Club committee would be forced to decide on the exact make-up of the field, but Godolphin made the surprise decision to remove Contributer from contention this morning.
Beadman confirmed that there were no issues with Contributer and he will press on to the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, but he said that the entire Godolphin team decided that both Hartnell and Complacent deserved their places in the race due to their recent form.
“The whole team had a good talk about it and we just thought that the horses that were racing at the best at the moment were the right two,” Beadman said.
“He is going to go to the Mackinnon with Contributer.
“Everything is fine with him and he worked exceptionally well this morning.
“It was just based on the best performed horses at this present point of time.”
Hartnell is currently available at 2015 Cox Plate odds of $17 with Ladbrokes to give Godolphin their maiden win in the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship, while Complacent is out to $19.
You can claim the best Cox Plate odds with leading online bookmaker Ladbrokes, who are offering Best Odds +20% on every single race at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
