Cox Plate a consideration for Takarazuka Kinen winner

8 months ago

Connections of Japanese mare Lys Gracieux will consider a tilt at the Cox Plate, after her brilliant win in Sunday's Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin.

The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Lys Gracieux was piloted to victory by Australian star Damian Lane.

Lys Gracieux has already travelled abroad, finishing a close third in the G1 Hong Kong Vase in December.

The Moonee Valley Racing Club recently announced an international bonus, on top of the $5m prizemoney on offer, for this year's Cox Plate.

Under the conditions of the new international bonus, if the victor of the Takarazuka Kinen wins the Cox Plate, they would win AUD$3M (¥225,000,000) first prizemoney plus a AUD$2M (¥150,000,000) bonus (total prizemoney plus bonus AUD$5M or ¥375,000,000.

"I have wondered about her strength and I told to the jockey to be careful not to start slowly," Yahagi said.

"Her two experiences of running in Hong Kong should stand her in good stead and come the autumn, if we consider the Breeders' Cup, I would like to run her in the Turf, rather than the Filly & Mare Turf, and I think she would run well.

"The Cox Plate is another option now. I will discuss it with her owners, who I think would like to challenge for big races abroad."

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