Given the option of selecting whichever of the 14 barriers she wanted for the high-class mare More Joyous, Waterhouse prompted incredulous reaction by choosing No 11.
"The reason is there might be some squeeze barriers and it just gives her that little bit more room to move," Waterhouse said.
A more traditional approach was made to the selection for the favourite Pierro who will jump from gate seven, while the third runner Proisir had to accept 10.
Green Moon, the second favourite, drew barrier five with third pick Ocean Park to jump from nine.
Waterhouse was also at pains to justify Pierro's Caulfield Guineas second placing, claiming the colt had lost nothing in defeat and that, he, like all her horses, was "110 per cent fit" and would be suited by the 2040m of the Cox Plate.
"He's a really outstanding horse, I don't think he lost one admirer the other day in the Guineas," she said.
"I think the distance will suit him better and I think the way the race is will suit him.
"They are 110 per cent fit and I've just got the job to make sure they stay sound and happy."
The Waterhouse praise for Proisir was similarly unbridled. "This is his first preparation. You tell me any horse in Australia that's got to weight-for-age, the leading weight-for-age race in Australia, in one prep." AAP
R8 7.15 Sportingbet Cox Plate, A$3,000,000, 2040m. - Shoot Out (4), Sincero (12), Glass Harmonium (2), Green Moon (5), Rekindled Interest (1), Linton (14), Happy Trails (8) 59; Ethiopia (6), Ocean Park (9) 57.5; More Joyous (11), Southern Speed (13) 57; Pierro (7), All Too Hard (3), Proisir (10) 49.5.
- AAP
