Australia’s premier race, the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, is set to deliver another thrilling spectacle, with the 2024 edition promising to be a standout contest this Saturday.
Down below is a runner by runner preview, speed map, and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Cox Plate.
2024 Cox Plate Runner Preview:
1. Mr Brightside: Same set up as last year for Mr B in terms if fifth up into the Cox Plate, two week gaps between runs. But, the 2000m record is there for all to see, and his 2000m record against POJ, he has been beaten a combined 13.1L. He will get a stalking run in transit, which helps. But I just don’t think he copes. Keen to oppose.
2. Prognosis: I have been hot on Prognosis for this race for a couple of months and won’t be dropping off here. Star from Japan who brings the elite form and the Romantic Warrior form, which clearly reads well for this given that horse won the Cox Plate last year. This horse does have a bad habit of missing the kick but if he’s within range 400m out, I think his finale will be too much for his rivals.
3. Kovalica: He should be just about the rank outsider. There are growing whispers that he is going to the Melbourne Cup and given he’s drawn wide here, he’ll go back to last and find the line, using this as a trial for the first Tuesday in November.
4. Royal Patronage: The talk was he was heading to the Crystal Mile but he was one of the standout workers on Tuesday and with what happened with Via Sistina, connections are having a throw at the stumps in the Cox Plate. He is racing very well…but he’s not up to these.
5. Docklands: I said Kovalica should just about the rank outsider. The rank outsider should be this guy. He reminds me of Victoria River from last year. Very good miler, but he’s got none at 2000m. Beaten out of sight at 2000m last start and he’s going to struggle big time with this race shape.
6. Pride Of Jenni: Pride Of Jenni is going to look the winner for a long way. She was huge in defeat last Saturday in the King Charles, leading and giving an enormous kick from the front but was run down late by a potential star, Ceowulf. Been set for the race, she’ll lead, roll, look the winner…can she hold on?
7. Via Sistina: I can understand people saying that it’s no drama re what happened on Tuesday…that is BS. Chris Waller is a creature of habit and times the prep of his runners to within an inch of his life. Those extra laps she did was not on the agenda and she was very lucky she didn’t do serious damage. IMO, I am penning her.
8. Broadsiding: Broadsiding has to be respected. On face value, just a run in the Caulfield Guineas, but he wasn’t helped by the negative ride and the race shape, which was clearly against him, but his finale was more than sound in defeat. The rise to 2040m looks ideal, and hopefully with a positive ride, he’ll be hard to beat.
9. Evaporate: Why is this guy $21 vs $6 Broadsiding? I was very keen on Broadsiding in the Caulfield Guineas, like most, but when watching the replay, the run of Evaporate, for mine, was much better. He loves The Valley, he will press forward…he just seems a massive price.
2024 Cox Plate Speed Map
Pride Of Jenni leads, no matter what Tony Ottobre says. That is her best and only chance of winning. Mr Brightside likely crosses Docklands and probably gets crossed in turn by Royal Patronage. Evaporate and Broadsiding, both three year olds, you’d think will roll the dice and settle handy with the lightweight.
2024 Cox Plate $100 Betting Strategy:
$100 Win Prognosis Best Of The Best via Topsport.
Group 1 Strategy Outlay: $1600
Group 1 Strategy Return: $865
