Prognosis

Prognosis (Image: Japan Racing Association)

Japanese star set for Cox Plate tilt

The Cox Plate will have a Japanese runner in 2024 with connections confirming star galloper Prognosis will make the trip Down Under.

Moonee Valley Racing Club had high hopes that Prognosis would feature in this year's race, but were eagerly awaiting confirmation, which occurred on Friday night.

Rated 119, Prognosis is a three-time winner at Group 2 level and will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of Lys Gracieux and bring the Cox Plate back to Japan.

Prognosis has been placed at Group 1 level three times, including in the 2023 Tenno Sho behind Equinox, and twice behind Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.

Prognosis is owned by Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd. and trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida.

Prognosis has been a key target for us since the beginning of our International Recruitment Strategy,” MVRC Head Of Racing Charlotte Mills said.
With a rating of 119, he is one of Japan’s top-rated horses and one of the best middle-distance horses in the world.
We are very excited to have Japanese participation in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate for the first time since Lys Gracieux’s historic win in 2019, and we are sure Prognosis will make his presence felt on the day.”

Paul Bloodworth, Racing Victoria’s General Manager International and Racing Operations, said: “We’re delighted that Mitsu Nakauchida and Shadai Horse Co have taken up the challenge to contest Australia’s Best Race, the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

Prognosis brings world class form to the race which ties into last year’s winner Romantic Warrior and arguably the best horse to ever race in Japan, Equinox.

With a rating of 119 he is the fourth highest rated horse in Japan this year and unquestionably has the capacity to go higher.

With international representation once again in the race and a seriously strong local contingent, the 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate is shaping up to be a fantastic contest.”