Armory ready for Valley battle

Aidan O'Brien's travelling foreman TJ Comerford believes this year's Cox Plate contender Armory is better than the stable's 2014 winner of the race, Adelaide.

Magic Wand, O'Brien's only Melbourne Group 1 winner aside from Adelaide, joins Armory in Saturday's $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m), with both competitors finalising their campaigns with a 1300-metre gallop on Werribee's course proper on Wednesday morning.

Armory and Magic Wand galloped at three-quarter pace before quickening up their final 400m and Magic Wand aesthetically worked better than Armory but there was little negativity that could be drawn from the gallop.

WATCH: TJ Comerford discuss Armory and Magic Wand

"They both helped each other along on the grass and they did a shaper piece of work than they had been doing, it went well and was very straightforward," Comerford said.

"I think Armory is the sort of horse you wouldn't see it all the time on the track or in that piece of work but he's the type of horse that keeps giving and we're very pleased with him, he's doing everything right.

"You couldn't have him any better, he's a decent horse."

Armory, like Adelaide when he won the Cox Plate, is a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old by Galileo.

Adelaide raced eight times for four wins and four minor placings before being retired after winning the Cox Plate while Armory has never finished worse than fourth from 11 starts.

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Armory raced against older opposition at G1 level for the first time in the Irish Champion Stakes (2012m) at Leopardstown on September 12, finishing third behind stablemate Magical and Ghaiyyath, with subsequent Arc winner Sottsass alongside in fourth.

"He just seems to be that little bit better but it's just form," Comerford said when comparing Armory with Adelaide.

"Armory has had plenty of races and he has always stepped up in the right races bit by bit. He knows what it's all about, he won't lack experience."

WATCH: Carl Di Iorio discusses Armory and Magic Wand

Comerford is confident that Armory will handle the tight-turning Valley circuit and will have no trouble handling Soft ground, to Australian standards.

Magic Wand ran fourth in last year's Cox Plate so there's no such concerns with the track but every drop of rain will dampen her chances of improving into the placings this year.

A daughter of Galileo, Magic Wand has been a beaten favourite at her past two starts, including when she was defeated by 17.5 lengths as $3.20 favourite in the G2 Blandford Stakes (1609m) for fillies and mares at the Curragh on September 13.

"Her only bad run was last start really in my opinion, her runs before that were in two Group 1s were she had taken on the likes of Enable, Ghaiyyath and Japan (in the Eclipse) and then she went to Goodwood where she was up there the whole time (in the G1 Nassau Stakes) and it's the type of track you probably have to ride a different type of race on them.

"Moonee Valley will be an easier track for her to deal with. She's a great traveler and a bit more stronger this year, the three weeks she's been here she has done well, she may take another run but you just never know with her."

Armory is a $5.50 chance with Sportsbet to win the Cox Plate while Magic Wand is at $26, with Russian Camelot a drifting $4.80 favourite.