The massive two day Cox Plate at Moonee Valley weekend begins on Friday night where it is Manikato Stakes Night. The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
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Race 1. (18:30) Msc Signs Hcp 1000m
6 Ruuca (Bet Now: $4.20) gets the nod for me in the opener. The Edmonds camp trains this colt, who hasn’t raced since August 31 at Eagle Farm where he arguably should have won but was very green in the straight and pretty much threw the race away when a close up third. Has been kept on ice for Melbourne and the Blinkers go on first time, signalling definite intent.
Giving enormous respect to 1 Amelia’s On Fire (Bet Now: $6.50), a Simon Miller trained filly from Perth who has a good overall record. She comes through the 3YO Classic at Ascot just under two weeks ago when on speed and giving a really good kick under Knuckey to score an impressive win. She looks a real short course specialist and the depth in that race was strong.
4 Niedorp (Bet Now: $7.50) is worth another look for Tony Gollan. She has been freshened up since contesting the Scarborough over 1200m here where not much went her way, but in saying that, she was comfortably behind the well performed Loving Gaby. Like her back to 1000m and her recent Flemington jumpout looked more than encouraging to the eye. Definite chance.
Race 2. (19:00) Chandler Macleod Gold Star 1500m
Want to give 2 Iconoclasm (Bet Now: $3.10) another chance. He was really well backed last time out in the Sir Rupert Clarke but in a rarity, Linda Meech rode a howler on the five year old, running way too quick in front and rightfully dropped out to run last to Begood Toya Mother. Forgive a good horse for one poor run, which is what Iconoclasm is, so giving him another chance.
1 Widgee Turf (Bet Now: $2.25) loves racing here and I think he’ll only run well. He was well specked in the Toorak two weeks ago and looked to have his chance but he didn’t disgrace himself at all behind Fierce Impact. I reckon 1600m at Group l level probably sees him right out but 1500m here, a track he loves, the set up just looks perfect for him to only run well.
5 Looks Like Elvis (Bet Now: $5.00) is in super form for Bryan Dais. Wasn’t beaten far in the Turnbull before going to the Cranborune Cup where he was well held but far from disgraced behind the low flying Dr Drill. Like him back in trip and his work here on Tuesday morning looked pretty sharp to the eye. Coming back in trip and whether or not he has the speed in the legs is the unknown.
Race 3. (19:30) Westin Melbourne Hcp 2040m
1 Mr Marathon Man (Bet Now: $4.20) looks the winner here doesn’t he? Has a fair bit on these in terms of class and the big tick for him is getting back out to a staying trip. He comes through a high rating Epsom Handicap where he finished around midfield behind Kolding but was far from disgraced. Massive drop in depth, gets Olly on from a good draw…really keen on him.
Talk about a horse that is flying. 5 Double You Tee (Bet Now: $3.20) is indeed that. He was a month between runs when racing over 2000m at Caulfield last Wednesday when showing a good turn of foot when asked by Billy Egan and despite lumping the big weight, he was too good. Gets good weight relief here and despite rising a fair bit in depth, hard to knock the way he’s going.
The last time 8 Lord Durante (Bet Now: $21.00) won was in fact this race three years ago. He’s eleven years of age and getting on in years, but his last couple of runs haven’t been too bad. He ran over the mile here last time out when on speed and fighting on well to run fourth to Aristocratic Miss. Gets out to a more ideal trip…doubt he wins, but he’s one for multiples.
Race 4. (20:00) 55 Second Challenge (84) 955m
8 November Man (Bet Now: $5.00) is flying for Anthony Cummings. Brilliant ride from Nash saw him win two back on the Kenso track before racing over 1100m at Randwick two weeks ago where he was back, with cover, before presenting wider and finishing off strongly to run second to Agent Pippa. He sits off a fast speed and launches at them late. Perfect set up here.
5 Fill The Flute (Bet Now: $4.20) has a very good first up record having won two of three and she comes into this after a pretty successful preparation where she went close in most of her runs. She will go to the lead and should be very hard to run down.
7 Bella Vella (Bet Now: $5.50) looks a real short course horse so the 955m set up is perfect for this Will Clarken mare. She’s around a month between runs since contesting the Whylie Handicap at Morphettville when sitting on a very hot speed and rightfully faded out of the finish when down the track behind Soothing. Draws a soft gate and hopefully Jamie Kah can take a sit.
Race 5. (20:30) Seppelt Wines Hcp 2040m
Giving respect to 9 Heart Of Grace (Bet Now: $4.00). This mare had her first run for the Anthony Freedman stable a couple of weeks back over the mile at Bendigo where she was a bit flat footed when the sprint went on but was really good late when a closing third. Big ticks are that she’s fitter, she steps up to 2000m and looks to have plenty of upside left in the tank.
If you’re a fan of scary movies, watch the replays of the last two starts of 3 Oceanex (Bet Now: $2.20). Ordinary steer by Mick Dee cost her the win two back in the Pinker Pinker Plate at Cranbourne before going to Caulfield last Wednesday where Jamie Kah was probing for the inside run and it was there, but Nelson rolled in and the run was shut out, and again another horror watch. She’s flying and is knocking on the door.
She’s working up to win is 13 Head Noises (Bet Now: $11.00). Just found them too sharp fresh at Mornington before going to Pakenham last Friday night where she was back in the run and never really a winning threat, but did make ground late and was more than encouraging in defeat. Getting out to an ideal trip and she’s got a stack of upside compared to some here, who are near the end of the prep.
Race 6. (21:00) Sweeney Estate Agents Hcp 1200m
Think 6 William Thomas (Bet Now: $3.80) is one of the better bets on the program. John Price trains this gelding, who gave them a spanking to win fresh at Caulfield before going to the Apache Cat Classic at Cranbourne where he was at 1000m and just didn’t have the zip to go with them early and that cost him when third to Tavisan. Up to 1200m, hard fit…keen on his chances.
Big watch on 7 Addictive Nature (Bet Now: $10.00), who has had a few homes throughout his career but is now with Paul Preusker. This five year old hasn’t raced since the Brisbane Winter Carnival where he finished down the track in the Wayne Wilson. Now with Preusker, his jumpouts have been decent enough and he’s got the class/quality to run a positive race.
I’m wary of 11 Critical Thinking (Bet Now: $34.00), a Brent Stanley trained gelding that resumes. This bloke hasn’t raced since Golden Mile Day at Bendigo when down the track and at the end of a long prep when down the track behind the since ill fated Antah. Can pull out a good run fresh and I’ve really liked the way he’s looked at the Bendigo jumpouts. Just needs luck from the draw.
Race 7. (21:30) Manikato Stakes 1200m
It’s hard seeing anything other than a win for 9 Bivouac (Bet Now: $1.90). These three year olds have been outstanding this season in Sydney and have continually run fast time, with that being confirmed in the Everest with Yes Yes Yes winning. That horse ran second to Bivouac in the Golden Rose, who was on speed and gave a tremendous kick under Bowman to get the win. Now based at Flemington, good jumpout last week and with the 3YO weight, gee he’ll take some beating.
Write off 11 Loving Gaby (Bet Now: $8.50) at your own peril. This filly produced an electric finale to win first up at this track/distance in the Scarborough before going to the Thoroughbred Club when outside a slow speed and just didn’t have the turn of foot to go with California Zimbol. Tempo will be far more genuine, down in the weights, hard fit now…she’ll only run well.
1 Rock Magic (Bet Now: $23.00) has been an absolute ripper for Chris Gangemi that is resuming here and I find him a fascinating runner. He is ten years of age and connections have paid the late entry fee for him. He trialled last Monday at Belmont and gee he looked to move well, winning the trial and beating the well performed Valour Road. The stable are bubbling with confidence about how he’s going, and he has run well in Melbourne previously.
Race 8. (22:00) Crown Resorts (bm84) 1500m
Interesting placement from John Thompson when it comes to 4 Cuba (Bet Now: $3.80), who has been excellent this time in. He poured the pressure on in front at Warwick Farm last time and gave a good kick but just died on the run late when fourth to El Mo. Love the booking of Nash, draws well, likely leads the field up and will be hard to beat if he can get a cheap furlong or two.
Can see 1 Reserve Street (Bet Now: $6.00) being very popular in the get out, especially with world class rider Ryan Moore steering. This gelding has won his past two, the latest being the Bairnsdale Cup when doing work to land on speed and showing good ticker late to get the job done. Harder here, but he’s a tough bugger, will be up on the pace and proving tough to get past.
12 Starouz (Bet Now: $10.00) should get a sweet trip from the gate for Olly. Just outclassed two back at Caulfield behind Pushin’ Shapes before going to Cranbourne Cup Day when getting a good time of it on speed and giving a good kick under Teo Nugent, but Strategic Phil just had the better turn of foot and that was the difference. Can lead/box seat from the draw and be dangerous.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Three Number 1 Mr Marathon Man
NEXT BEST: Race Four Number 8 November Man
LONG SHOT: Race Five Number 9 Heart Of Grace
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 2, 3, 9, 13
Leg Two: 4, 5, 6, 7, 11
Leg Three: 1, 6, 9, 11
Leg Four: 1, 4, 12
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