Cox Plate 2012

Cox Plate 2012

Race One

4.Crack A Roadie – 8.Shamus Award – 1.Direct Charge – 12.Fantome Gris

Race Two

8.Bigelow – 1.Kulgrinda – 9.I Get Around – 3.Obsisdian Dragon

Race Three

3.Midnight Martini – 1.Extra Zero – 7.Mourinho – 4.Texan Warney

Race Four

2.Hidden Warrior – 7.Cavalry Rose – 4.Haussmann – 6.Essay Raider

Race Five

1.It’s A Dundeel – 3.If I Could – 4.Super Cool – 7.Nisos

By now I'm expecting your wallets to be fat and the champagne to be flowing. It's at this time you DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT empty your wallet on to the $1.24 hot shot in this race, or the $1.50 "Good Thing" at St Arnaud... although I hear Pacino is a big show in the St Arnaud Cup later in the day. Any-who, It’s A Dundeel IS a potential superstar who unleashed an almighty finishing burst to down Cox Plate fancy Proisir last start. As mentioned he’ll jump at $1.24 (and deservedly), so rather than unloading, play around in exotics to gain any value out of the race. I've always liked the look of If I Could; he’s a big rangy long striding horse and will be hitting the line hard. The other Kavanagh runner Super Cool was extremely unlucky last start and with a bit of luck in running, he may push the favourite right to the line.

Race Six

9.Midas Touch – 4.Ironstein – 1.Unusual  Suspect - 2.Precedence

Trying out a theory.. Whenever I say "This is a seemingly impossible edition of (Insert race name)" I seem to pick the winner.. So let's give it a go: This is a seemingly impossible edition of the Moonee Valley Cup, a very even bunch of stayers all looking to wedge their way into that race people seem to talk about a bit. Lloyd Williams has his band of Import stayers in fine fettle heading on to the first Tuesday in November. Midas Touch has been fairly disappointing since coming to Australia, but his last start performance may be an indicator of things to come. He should sit on what seems a fairly steady tempo and make it a true staying test from the 800 on wards  Expect a flock of horses including Ironstein, Moudre, Unusual Suspect and Precedence to be closing hard late. A load up leg in the Quaddie if there ever was one.

Race Seven

6.Ambidexter – 1.Rangirangdoo – 7.Silent Achiever – 4.Illo

Always had time for Ambidexter and this race looks to suit perfectly. He has always shown plenty of class, and was a squirrel’s mustache away from winning the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at his last start. After a nice cosy run on the speed courtesy of Spacecraft, he will be very hard to hold out. Rangirangdoo was very  disappointing in the Epsom last start. I’m not sure if old age is starting to get the best of him,and if he doesn't  bounce back here at the Valley, it may be off to the retirement village. Silent Achiever is a classy mare from the land of Chris Cairns, and mixed it here with our best 3 year old's in the autumn. Definitely not the worst!   

Race Eight - Cox Plate

4.Green Moon – 10.More Joyous – 8.Ethiopia – 12.Pierro

The 2012 Cox Plate looks to have it all. With top class 3 year old's mixing it with the big boys, Gai and Singo at each other’s throats over glamour mare More Joyous and Bossy talking about Ocean Park as if he’s unbeatable, it’s been a Newspapers dream. With all these stories flooding our minds however, Green Moon seems to have flown under the radar… but as Craig Williams put it ‘You wouldn't want to go to war with any other horse’. Green Moon looks bomb proof. He is almost impeccable at 2000m, will position up just behind what looks to be a hot tempo and has the toughness to wear down his lightly weighted rivals. If there is a challenge it may be from Singo’s golden girl More Joyous. She has had an ideal preparation, and I didn't think her Toorak run was all that bad. If she can get across from gate 11 without too many hassles, expect her to be right in the finish. Ethiopia is a must include in all multiples and Quaddies. He may be a big baby, but has an enormous finishing burst, and with clear running he will be a huge show in the final 100m.

Race Nine

3.Zurella – 1.Spirit Song  - 6.Pretty Pins – 5.Star Of Giselle

Without a number 10 in the last, doing a preview seems pointless… but I’ll do it anyway.. can’t go disappointing my tens upon tens of fans! Zurella has had an unusual campaign since winning the Group 2 Let’s Elope first up (I’m sure Shaun Ritchie knows what he’s doing, but I have my doubts at times).She has always shown plenty of class in her short career and a testing mile should suit her perfectly. Spirit Song is as consistent as they come and will certainly be finishing hard late... the 59KG is a slight worry, but I’d be surprised if she doesn’t run top 4. Pretty Pins a must for all exotics, she still hasn't been able to draw a decent barrier, but with a little luck, she’ll be right in the finish.

QUADDIE:
1.2.4.5.7.8.9.11
1.2.4.6.7
1.4.5.8.10.11.12
1.3.6
$50 for 5.95%