2011 Cox Plate Preview & Tips

Moonee Valley – Sat 22 October 2011

It is the biggest Moonee Valley raceday of the year where the highlight is the Group 1 $3 million WS Cox Plate over 2040m. This is the most important Australian race for the racing purists and there is a full field of 14 runners although one of the 2 emergencies has already been scratched.The home straight is only 173 metres and always makes for exciting racing.

The nine race program includes four Group 2, two Group 3 and a Listed race. The smallest field is the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes over 1200m where the 9 nominations dropped down to 5 acceptances, frightened off by Black Caviar chasing her 15^th consecutive win. The track was rated dead at acceptance time with little change expected before Saturday.

Runners in the 2011 Cox Plate

Helmet ($3.40) is the only three-year-old in the race. The Exceed and Excel colt from the Peter Snowden stable is trying to follow in the footsteps of So You Think who won the first of his two Cox Plates as a three-year-old. He has 6 wins and 3 places from 9 starts and won the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas over 1600m at his last outing. He drops 7kg on his last start but is having his first run against the older horses, first run over the 2000m and first run at Moonee Valley with its short straight.

Jimmy Choux ($4.50) is a top New Zealand four-year-old who won the Group 1 Spring Classic over 2040m by 1.8 lengths at his latest start in NZ. He has 12 wins and 6 places from 21 starts and has raced in Australia before, winning the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000m then running 6^th in the Group 1 AJC Derby over 2400m. He has won over distances of 800m to 2400m but looks to do his best over 1600 to 2000m. Drawn in barrier 10 and will give a good sight.

Rekindled Interest ($7) has been well backed since the market opened. The four-year-old Redoute’s Choice gelding put in an impressive performance at Tuesdays “Breakfast with the Best” and has an affinity with the tricky Moonee Valley circuit, winning 2 of his 3 starts there, one over this distance. He won the Group 2 Chin Nam Stakes over 1600m on 10 September, beating Alcopop and Whobegotyou. His latest run was 5^th in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington. Nicely drawn in barrier 3 and will go well.

Secret Admirer ($12) is the least experienced horse in the field, with only 8 races in her career. She has won 3 and placed 4 times with her worst performance 4^th of 10 runners in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes. Her wins include the Group 1 Flight Stakes and her latest start was a powerful win in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, making her the first mare to win in 35 years. Will charge home strongly.

King’s Rose ($12) is a four-year-old Redoute’s Choice mare who fights strongly at the end of her races. She has 8 wins from 15 starts and has won both of her starts over this distance. She has had 3 starts from a spell for a win in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes over 1400m, a win in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes over 1600m and a 2^nd in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over 1600m. She is in great form and showed she can handle this track in the Stocks Stakes.

Glass Harmonium ($13) is a likely leader in the race from barrier 4. He has 2 wins and 3 places from 8 starts at the distance, and his latest run was 2^nd to December Draw in the Turnbull Stakes where he was nosed out right near the post. Has been very consistent in recent races.

Lion Tamer ($17) has drawn the outside barrier. His formline can be erratic and he is capable of brilliance like his 6.5 length win in the Victoria Derby last year. He won the Group 1 Underwood Stakes by 1.3 lengths on 17 September, beating subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed, then failed to show anything in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes where he ran 8^th of 9. The wild card in the race.

Jo’s Tips – Cox Plate

- (5.) Jimmy Choux
- (13.) King’s Rose
- (12.) Secret Admirer
- (9.) Rekindled Interest

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