THE 2019 COX PLATE CONTENDERS AND KEY QUOTES

BLACK HEART BART: "We've both been through the wars, I guess, and we come into the Cox Plate in great form, both of us. I'm very excited about our chances. I know that we're in the race with a genuine chance" - jockey Brad Rawiller

AVILIUS: "He was my pick for the race a fair way out. I'm happy to be on him and you could make a case for a lot of runners. It would be nice if we got a drop of rain. He likes it when it gets to a (soft) five or a six and that will enhance his chances as well" - jockey Kerrin McEvoy

KLUGER: "I think he looks really well and I think his condition is better than what it was in Sydney during the autumn. He's a big horse but takes small strides and is very quick on his legs so I think this track will suit him" - trainer Tomokazu Takano

HARLEM: "I'd be pleasantly surprised if he won it but I'd be disappointed if he didn't run well" - co-trainer David Hayes

HOMESMAN: "This has been his target the whole way through. He's in great form, but it's a bit of a blow that barrier. We'll have to work out how we can make that barrier work for him" - part-owner Nick Williams

KINGS WILL DREAM: "To see him find his Group One win last start I think was very special. His work over the past couple of weeks has been good and he seems to have a bit of a profile to fit that tough Australian horse that you need in a Cox Plate" - trainer Chris Waller

TE AKAU SHARK: "It's great to get the horse into the race but it just makes it really difficult from the outside barrier. He really is in great shape though" - trainer Jamie Richards

DANCETERIA: ""We mapped out the whole of the season to try to peak for the Cox Plate. Obviously it involves the travelling which is always an unknown when you travel that far, but we're very pleased with him" - trainer David Menuisier

LYS GRACIEUX: "She's a top quality mare and she seems in very good order. I worked her at The Valley and couldn't be happier how she felt and how she looked physically" - jockey Damian Lane

MAGIC WAND: "She has run some very good races behind some of the best horses like Magical in Ireland and Bricks And Mortar in the Arlington Million. But the Japanese mare (Lys Gracieux) is possibly a little bit above them all, but she has drawn nicely and hopefully she can run well" - jockey Ryan Moore

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: "We kept his training very light and easy going into the Caulfield Stakes and we might have found the key to him. We've kept him on the fresh side and haven't tumbled into working him hard after a win. And I really feel his work on Wednesday at Flemington was outstanding. He was really wanting to explode" - co-trainer David Hayes

MYSTIC JOURNEY: "She's going to go there and give a really good account of herself, we trust. This has been our grand final all preparation and she hasn't done anything throughout the course of her races to sway us that she's not good enough in any regard" - trainer Adam Trinder

VERRY ELLEEGANT: "I've been happy with all of her runs. I just think barrier draws and tempo of races have been an indicator that she's been running better than her finishing positions and even last start we took her back to last in a relatively slowly run race and her sectionals were excellent to win. I'm really happy with where she's at" - trainer Chris Waller

CASTELVECCHIO: "We wouldn't be here if we were just having a throw at the stumps. We're here to win the race" - trainer Richard Litt

EMERGENCIES - HUMIDOR, MR QUICKIE, GAILO CHOP, DREAM CASTLE