Many say it's Australia’s best race of the year and you probably can't argue with that comment if you look at the quality of the horses in this weekend's WS Cox Plate.
Anamoe, Zaaki, I’m Thunderstruck and Alligator Blood could all be labeled champions come Saturday evening, and then you have the well backed, but relatively unknown, El Bodegon, who could spoil the party to again show us how good Irish racing can be.
The first race at The Valley gets underway at 12:15pm on Saturday, with the track currently rated a Good 4 at time of posting, but heavy rains expected over the course of Friday evening. The 20mls of rain is meant could leave The Valley with a Soft track for Cox Plate Day so the form has been done around a Soft 5 or 6 track come race time.
Brendan Bunworth is in the saddle with his free preview for the Cox Plate, and racing tips for every race on the Moonee Valley card below.
Moonee Valley Betting Tips: Saturday, October 22nd
Race 1
(5) Sailor’s Rum has barrier one for Jamie Kah and he has won two jumpouts to date. An inside gate may assist early on.
(4) Mexico has JMac on and has a good barrier in two.
(3) Capper Thirtynine has a wide barrier and was just fair in a recent trial.
(2) Cape Byron has blinkers on and is in a leading stable.
(5) Sailor’s Rum
$3.00 (1 unit)
Race 2
*SCRATCHED* (6) Sartorial Splendor drops eight kilos in weight for this race. He should settle in the top couple as he has good barrier manners and it wont worry him if the track is Good or Soft. He arguably should have won over the 955m last time when beaten a neck.
(4) Ashford Street goes good on Soft ground and is racing in an easier race this time after competing against the talented Asfoora last start.
(5) Streetcar Stranger has been trialing well and wasn't disgraced in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate last start. Before that it was a good Caulfield win on a Good track. No rain please.
(3) Esta La Roca has won seven of 19 and has won three races at this track.
(6) Sartorial Splendor
SCR
Race 3
(6) Shalailed has run two seconds from two attempts on Soft ground and he will be storming home if they go along at a nice clip in front. Nash Rawiller takes the ride for John O’Shea and he does come into this race nicely after placing in a Group 3 race last start. On that occasion he got the gun run and held on strongly to third at nice odds.
(2) Sweet Ride is three from five on Soft ground and has trialed and then run a nice 2nd at Randwick over the last month. Barrier 10 may be a slight issue.
(1) Sejardan gets back in his races and is ready to run a drum after three recent unplaced efforts where he wasn't disgraced.
(7) Boldinho is up in class but will settle handy. He won by 4L last time at Pakenham but this is harder.
(6) Shalailed
$4.00 (2 units)
Race 4
(12) Greece was my on top selection but is a late scratching so (10) Everglade gets the nod for Team Hayes and Craig Williams. He was another who won by 4L last time and that was at Moonee Valley. She is up in class and will likely settle forward.
(7) Wee Nessy was only beaten by 1.5L by Nanagui in a Listed Race at Flemington recently and this race is easier than that. She had no luck last time and the conditions should suit.
(8) Birdies Galore is first up and will also push forward but may get tired late. It was a good 2nd in a Listed race at Morphettville last start.
(10) Everglade
$7.00 (1 unit)
Race 5
(2) Do it La is slightly down in class for Peter Moody & Luke Nolen and she should get a nice sit from barrier five. She was good in the Group 2 Edward Manifold when fourth beaten 1.5L and her work late was solid. She should settled around third and be close to the lead as they turn for home.
(8) Stariane is third up and has placed on the Heavy before.
*SCRATCHED* (5) Hell Hath No Fury is fitter now but is having her first try at the distance. She is the current favourite on the back of a close up third at Sandown Hillside last start.
(7) Climbing Star won well at Cranbourne last start but this is harder. She has had enough trials to be fit enough for this though.
(2) Do it La
$3.00 (2 units)
Race 6
(6) Gentleman Roy is better suited to Good ground but is still capable on the Soft. His fourth in the Group 1 Toorak was huge andhe will goforward again here. If the track is playing leader bias as it can sometimes do, he is an even bigger chance. He does go up 6kg however so will want to pinch a break on them around the turn.
(7) Visinari was $1.60 when resuming and just got there for the win in what what was a nervous watch for punters. She rises in class but should get a comfortable sit just off them. Big chance.
(5) My Oberon was second in a trial to Grandslam last week but comes into this race fresh. Johnny Allen takes the ride on the English mare. Big watch.
(8) Bankers Choice didn't have any luck in the Toorak when 10th and he does get in well at the weights here. He is three from three on the Good but it might be a Soft track by then i think.
(6) Gentleman Roy
$6.50 (1 unit)
Race 7
(6) Sir Bailey is one at odds here for the Maher & Eustace stable. The colt had no luck in the Caulfield Guineas when 13th and was scratched last week with the stable having track concerns. If it gets too wet he may not run again but we will have to monitor conditions. Barrier four is ideal but he needs to begin better because he did cost himself a little bit last start with missing the start 1L.
*SCRATCHED* (4) Foujita San has been settling back his last few but may have to push forward in this race. He was second at this track two starts back and he should improve further after having a look at the tight course.
(3) Pericles comes over from NSW and will want it to rain all day. The wetter, the better.
(1) Berkeley Square will start fav and is the one to beat. The current odds of $2.10 is too short for mine but he definitely should finish in the top two. The rain will assist and wasn't wanted by a few of his rivals.
(6) Sir Bailey E/W
$21/4.00 (0.5 units E/W)
Race 8
(6) Persan is getting under the radar a bit this prep I reckon. Maher & Eustace have him ticking along alright and he has been fighting on well without threatening of late. A win here will see him running in the Melbourne Cup and likely be a big chance. He drops a bit of weight for this race and I think the stable will want him to fire in this one.
(9) Nerve Not Verve likes The Valley and goes well on all surfaces. She will settle in the first four and may take off at the 600m.
(3) Desert Icon is two from two on the track and his third in the Herbet Power was excellent after getting a good run in transit. Not many were running on that day but she plugged away nicely.
(1) Grand Promenade is two from two over this distance and is very strong to the line. A Soft track would be ideal.
(6) Persan
$4.60 (2 units)
Race 9 - WS Cox Plate
(10) Anamoe was so exciting last start and got me out of my chair and doing the old fist pump when he won the Caulfield Stakes last start. Speaking after the race, connections said that he was still one run away and JMac even said he felt that Anamoe still had more in the tank after the race. The Cox Plate is often a tactical race but I think Anamoe can settle around sixth on the outside and round them up to a loud Moonee Valley roar.
(6) Gold Trip is a key player if the meeting is going ahead in rain. He was second in the Caulfield Cup beaten a head and connections are confident with a forward showing. In all three runs this campaign the total losing margin has only been three lengths.
(2) I’m Thunderstruck has obviously got a big finish on him but I'm worried a couple in front of him might have pinched the top two placings before his run is started. Barrier 10 is also of slight concern. Will the jocks keep him posted first time past the winning post? He is not a horse you really want to take forward.
(7) Laws of Indices was huge last start and if the Cox Plate is run on a Soft track then he is a good place chance at odds. First time at the track is a slight concern but the horse is flying.
I better speak about (1) Zaaki too. Champion but barrier one actually concerns me. They usually take off at the 800m mark in this race and Zaaki may have little room to accelerate.
(10) Anamoe
$2.40 (4 units)
Race 10
(8) Saigon for Chris Waller and Brett Prebble has been running well without winning her last couple. She goes well on Soft tracks and will settle midfield on the outside in the run. By the last race, the outside may have the better going so she can make a sustainable run around the bend.
(6) Roots is the one to beat but does look a bit short in the market. She bolted in last time at Canterbury then was scratched at The Valley last time. Craig Williams replaces JMac for the ride.
(5) My Whisper is fitter now but may settle too far back. If it buckets down then Snowden may even scratch her. Talented though.
(1) Sirleo Miss likes the wet but has been mixing her form. She's won two Listed races however and a win wont shock but some others are better if you're looking for value.
(8) Saigon E/W
$16/$3.70 (0.5 units E/W)
Race 11 - Manikato Stakes
After racing was abandoned at Moonee Valley on Friday night due to the thunderstorm, the decision was made the reschedule the Group 1 Manikato and add it to the end of the Cox Plate Day schedule.
*SCRATCHED* (11) Roch ‘N’ Horse is a big chance at a price now in the Manikato after the downgrade of the track. The Moroney stable won the Geelong Cup on Wednesday and is in fine form.
(10) Bella Nipotina gets the nod in second place now after the track becoming Heavy. She is proven on this surface having won two of four on it.
(5) Paulele is the fav and will get a gun run but has never won on the Heavy. At the time of print Paulele has come into $3.80 which is too short now.
*SCRATCHED* (14) Coolangatta may get tired the last 50m but will be in this for a long way from the inside barrier.
(7) Rothfire has drawn well in five and will want the rain to stay away. A Soft 5 or 6 is okay but if it buckets down let it go.
(9) September Run has been around The Valley five times now which helps and isn’t without hope. She was backed in last start at Caulfield when fifth and it was a useful run.
