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Japan will have representation in the Cox Plate for the first time since Lys Gracieux scored in 2019.
Japanese galloper Prognosis has been confirmed for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley with Damian Lane expected to take the ride.
A three-time Group 2 winner in Japan, Prognosis was keenly sought after by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to come to Melbourne and run in the Group 1 showpiece over 2040m on October 26.
Prognosis has won seven times from his 15 starts, with five of those victories coming at 2000m.
He has claimed back-to-back victories in the Kinko Sho along with victory in the Sapporo Kinen.
Along with his three victories at Group 2 level, Prognosis has placed three times at Group 1 level, including the 2023 Tenno Show and twice behind last year's Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.
Prognosis, trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, will be the first Japanese galloper to run in the Cox Plate since Lys Gracieux took out the race in 2019.
MVRC Head of Racing Charlotte Mills said Prognosis had been a key target since the beginning of our International Recruitment Strategy.
"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," Mills said.
"We are very excited to have Japanese participation in the 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."
