3YOs may miss out as Cox Plate battle hots up

IF FAVOURITE Denman wins Saturday's Caulfield Guineas, there might be no three-year-olds in the WS Cox Plate a fortnight later, such is the struggle for a position in the 14-horse field, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.It says: For the first time since 1995, emergencies are likely to be included for this spring's Cox Plate as Australia's best horses remain in the chase for the time-honoured $3 million race. Only once in the past 14 years (2005) has the thrilling weight-for-age battle had a ful

IF FAVOURITE Denman wins Saturday's Caulfield Guineas, there might be no three-year-olds in the WS Cox Plate a fortnight later, such is the struggle for a position in the 14-horse field, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

It says: For the first time since 1995, emergencies are likely to be included for this spring's Cox Plate as Australia's best horses remain in the chase for the time-honoured $3 million race. Only once in the past 14 years (2005) has the thrilling weight-for-age battle had a full field face the starter.

The Moonee Valley Racing Club committee use the international ratings as its guide when hand-picking the final Cox Plate line-up, so the results of Saturday's group 1 races - the Caulfield Guineas, the Yalumba Stakes and even the Toorak Handicap - will be crucial in determining the final line-up for the Cox Plate. Of the 39 horses paid up for Tuesday's third declarations for the Cox Plate, 23 carry an international rating of 114 to 118. But the ratings will be adjusted according to performances by the Cox Plate's final payment time of October 20.

To make the fight for a spot even tighter for some contenders, both the Caulfield Guineas winner and the Yalumba Stakes winner on Saturday will join Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes winner Whobegotyou and AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor as exempt from the Cox Plate ballot.

Guineas favourite Denman will not start in the Cox Plate but there are six other elite three-year-olds paid up. AJC Sires' Produce Stakes winner and Caulfield Guineas candidate Manhattan Rain is equal best placed at 26th in order for a start with a rating of 114. Also at that mark is Onemorenomore, then comes Tickets at 111, Trusting at 110, while Extra Zero and So You Think are both rated on 103.