The 2023 Cox Plate Day greets us with an outstanding 10-race program which sees the Manikato Stakes and the Cox Plate in what will be one of the finest hours of racing for the year. The Group 1 Manikato will start at 4:20pm (AEDT), and the Cox Plate will follow at 5:10pm (AEDT) with Romatic Warrior from Hong Kong the favourite. The Warrior has spent the past three weeks at Werribee in Quarantine but has had solid hitouts on course at Melbourne. The track will likely still be in the Good range by Saturday. Race 1 starts at 12:10pm (AEDT), and we have our best bets for the card below!
Also, make sure to head over to our Racing Tips page for more best bets from around the country this Saturday!
Moonee Valley Racing Tips: Saturday, October 28th 2023
Race 1: Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap - 12:10pm (AEDT)
(3) Taunting settled on speed and was too good for his rivals at Morphettville last start and from barrier 4 he may be able to get a similar run in transit in this encounter. He loves this distance and he drops 3kg despite winning last start. He has a win and a third from 3 starts when third up.
(4) Fasuto has won twice over this distance previously and McDougall won when on top at his only race start when being jockey.
(6) Shalaman was running poorly at the start of the year but it looks as though she is back to her best now. The Bedgood team are in form and he wants a Soft track here.
(2) Unflinching has a few things going for him here. He should lead and he does loves this distance. Kah is on and she is due to return to form.
(3) Taunting - Win
$2.30 (3 Units)
Race 2: Inglis Banner - 12:45pm (AEDT)
(9) Cohen Legend gets the nod in the first starters race. In a race where we are just taking an educated guess, we do know that this guy trialed well. Cost $420,000 as a yearling.
(8) Bold Bastille has run 2nd on two occasions in recent barrier trials.
(6) Whitson might be value for the Mitch Freedman team. They do like their horses right when first up.
(15) Blue Stratum is 3rd emergency but he did trial well and has been tipped early if he does get a run.
No Bet
Race 3: Powerflo Solutions Teio Stakes Group 3 - 1:20pm (AEDT)
(5) Soul Choice has a chance to lead here and with Meech on the mare can show her best on a preferred Good surface. She drops 1.5kg and gets weight relief from some of her key rivals. If she doesn’t lead she has the ability to sit outside the leader like she did when winning first up and still win. Waterhouse & Bott factor also come into it here.
(1) Thalassophile is a big chance but probably wants a Soft track which she may not get. Does have to carry an extra 3kg here after running 4th in another Group 3 in Sydney last start.
(2) WIshlor Lass for Team Wilde will settle handy again and will start fav. Loves a Dry track and is going for 3 on the bounce.
(3) Osmose may get back in this but will be hitting the line hard. It probably depends how fast they go early to see if she can win.
(5) Soul Choice - Win
$5.50 (1 Unit)
Race 4: PFD Food Services Crockett Stakes - 1:55pm (AEDT)
*SCRATCHED* (3) Inhibitions drops back in distance but should give a good run for Craig Williams on a track he likes. He has always run a top 3 finish over this distance and he should get a good run settling around 4th in the run from barrier 4. He is back in grade after running in Group Races his last couple.
(1) Saltaire has drawn wide for Blake Shinn (11) but he has the blinkers on this time which should make for improvement. First try at The Valley though.
(4) Cigar Flick is the fittest horse in the race and he has JMac on who has won on him before. Might be suited to wetter ground though.
(5) Sheva won well at good odds last time at Caulfield but this is harder. Is 2 from 2 over this distance though.
Race 5: McCafe Crystal Mile Group 2 - 2:30pm (AEDT)
(4) Antino comes from barrier 4 here after a beautiful run at Caulfield last start when running 2nd behind Attrition in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap. Since coming over from Brisbane, Blake Shinn has already won on him and if the track stays a Good 4, he should love it. First try at The Valley.
(6) Prowess has drawn the inside and has won 5 from her 7 career starts. Comes over from New Zealand and she is a Group 1 winner.
(1) Tuvalu loves a Good track and may lead or sit 2nd in this race. Kah is on and she would be eager to return to the winner’s stall.
(2) Bankers Choice was huge last start when running home very well into 3rd in the Toorak. Not sure he can do that on a tight track and win though.
(4) Antino - Win
$3 (2 Units)
Race 6: 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic Group 2 - 3:05pm (AEDT)
(4) Captain Amelia was 10th at the 400m mark of the Flight Stakes at Randwick last start (5th) and never really got warm over the final 200m but she was luckless in the run. JMac is on for John O’Shea and both of her wins have come on Good tracks. She is down in class from Group 1 to Group 2 and she might settle a little closer in this.
(3) Carina Queen settled midfield before scoring at Hillside last start (Good 4) and with a similar run here she should fill a placing at each-way odds.
(2) Aprilla may lead for Ollie here and if he can dictate she could pinch it. Second look here may help after her unplaced run on August 26.
(8) Skybird likes the dry but does get back. From barrier 11 she may get caught wide.
(4) Captain Amelia - Win
$5 (1 Unit)
Race 7: Drummond Golf Vase Group 2 - 3:40pm (AEDT)
(3) Verdad ran pretty well in the Caulfield Guineas (6th) considering he came from a wide barrier in 14. Before that he had a look at The Valley and was beaten a head when 3rd behind Griff who went on to win again at his next start. Dry conditions should suit and barrier 6 looks ideal for Beau Mertens.
(2) Air Assault was dominant at Morphettville last start winning by 3.5L but this is harder. From barrier 10 Damien Lane will be positive and go forward and he should place.
(4) Apulia was 4th in the Group 3 Norman Robinson after getting way back. At a tighter track he may roll more forward.
(5) Snowman goes up 200m in trip to the 2000m and does have the JMac/Waller combinations which must be respected.
(3) Verdad - Win
$2.80 (2 Units)
Race 8: Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes GROUP 1 - 4:20pm (AEDT)
(6) Imperatriz came from off the speed to win at this track on a Friday night last time in the Moir and it did look as though she was 2 to 3L better than the others. She has won 15 from 21 starts and is unbeaten at this track.
(7) I Am Me loves a Dry track but does face her toughest assignment yet. But she has won 4 from 6 over this distance.
(3) Uncommon James has the blinkers off again and comes into this after Asfoora put it to him with 200m to go last time at Caulfield. Loves Dry ground and may try to settle closer again to make sure he is in front of Imperatriz on the turn.
(2) Buenos Noches will be storming home and can only win if they go crazy early. Is very talented but this may be beyond him.
(6) Imperatriz - Win
$1.45 (5 Units)
Race 9: Ladbrokes Cox Plate GROUP 1 - 5:10pm (AEDT)
(1) Romantic Warrior is the Hong Kong hope and by all reports is 2L quicker than these. He was far from disgraced in the Turnbull when unplaced and this is obviously his Grand Final. He has drawn well in 7 and after being favourite for 4 months for this race and it does look like the preparation has gone well despite the trainer saying that the Werribee Quarantine facilities were not up to standards.
(8) Fangirl is in fantastic form and the winning margin in the Group 1 King Charles seemed less than it actually was (2.67L).
(11) Militarize carries just 49.5kg in this which gives him a chance at each-way odds. He was 5th in the Caulfield Guineas after getting way too far back.
(6) My Oberon is huge odds but has won at this track before and was only 2.8L behind Fangirl last start.
(1) Romantic Warrior - Win
$4 (2 Units)
Race 10: Sharp EIT Red Solutions Stake Group 3 - 5:50pm (AEDT)
*SCRATCHED* (1) Barber is fitter now being third up and will settle midfield in this one. He has been scratched a few time over the last 3 months but the team must think he’s ready if they are pressing on here. He has poor form over this distance but he has won twice on a Good track. He has barrier 1 last time when 6th at Rosehill but barrier 8 probably suits him better here.
(2) Maharba had a juicy run when winning at this track last time but can win again here. A Dry track suits and he just might get the run of the race again with Michael Dee settling around 4th in the run.
(3) Archo Nacho has drawn well in 2 and if you forget his last start he would be one of the favourites in this. At Flemington in the Poseidon Stakes he won well coming from midfield and he will need to match that here if he is to win. Zahra is on which might help.
(6) Loose on the Gin was far too good at Hamilton when $1.25. Comes over from The Bool but this is a lot tougher. Big odds but can place.
No Bet
Quaddie Tips
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Leg one: 2, 3, 4
Leg two: 6
Leg three: 1, 8, 11
Leg four: 1, 2, 3
