Lane rapt with Gracieux gallop

Cox Plate favourite Lys Gracieux ticked another box on Wednesday with jockey Damian Lane providing a positive report after her first look around The Valley.

The star mare worked alongside fellow Japanese raider Kluger, with the pair completing a moderate 1000-metre gallop designed to help familiarise them with the unique circuit.

Lane said the Yoshito Yahagi-trained galloper looked and felt in similar order to when he won the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) on her in June, which came during his successful riding stint in Japan this year.

"I was rapt with her," Lane said.

"To the eye, she looks very similar to the last time I saw her in the mounting yard at Hanshin, she's in good order.

"She always looks that touch light, she's a bit of an athlete, she's very tight and the boys are adamant that they've brought her out here a fit horse so she was more here for a look around than anything else.

"It was important for her to get around the corners well, have a look and take it all in and she seemed to do it well so I think she should race well here."

While she's displayed a versatile racing pattern during her 20-start career, Lys Gracieux's Cox Plate chances will be enhanced with a genuine tempo, according to Lane.

The 25-year-old rates the mare as one of the best horses he's ever ridden and believes she deserves her status as $4 Cox Plate favourite with BetEasy.

"She's one of the better horses I've ridden in my time and I'm really looking forward to the challenge," he said.

"I'd love some speed on, the main attribute for some of these Japanese horses is their sustained speed but she's very versatile, she's raced well from back in the field and she's also won sitting outside the leader.

"The Cox Plate has always got a way of finding the best horse to win so hopefully that's the case come Cox Plate Day this year."