James McDonald and Romantic Warrior return after finishing fourth in the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. (Image: Racing Photos)
Hong Kong superstar and Cox Plate favourite Romantic Warrior will jump from barrier seven in Saturday's Group 1.
The Danny Shum-trained galloper will get every possible chance from the gate with James McDonald on board. Travelling foreman Ben So did the job at the barrier draw for the Romantic Warrior camp, with most of the inside barriers already taken by the time his name came up.
"I feel like it's a reasonable draw. I'm happy with it," Shum said.
When asked what his instructions to James McDonald would be, Shum said: "Ride him simple, do his best, try our best."
Ben Hayes selected barrier two for Mr Brightside, while Alligator Blood will jump from barrier five.
Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett selected barrier eight for Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip , while Newgate's Henry Field remotely selected barrier three for Militarize.
Zaaki, the last horse selected, will jump from barrier 12.
WATCH: Dunny Shum on Romantic Warrior
COX PLATE
1. ROMANTIC WARRIOR (D Shum) J McDonald - 59 - 7
2. ZAAKI (A Neasham) D Lane - 59 - 12
3. MR BRIGHTSIDE (B, W & JD Hayes) C Williams - 59 - 2
4. ALLIGATOR BLOOD (G Waterhouse & A Bott) T Clark - 59 - 5
5. GOLD TRIP (C Maher & D Eustace) M Zahra - 59 - 8
6. MY OBERON (A Neasham) J Mott - 59 - 4
7. PINSTRIPED (E Jusufovic) B Allen - 59 - 11
8. FANGIRL (C Waller) Z Purton - 57 - 9
9. DUAIS (E Cummings) D Oliver - 57 - 1
10. VICTORIA ROAD (A O'Brien) B Shinn – 56.5 - 6
11. MILITARIZE (C Waller) Z Lloyd (a) – 49.5 - 3
12. KING COLORADO (C Maher & D Eustace) M Dee – 49.5 - 10