2024 Cox Plate Day Races 1-5 results: Team Hayes looks on Brightside with firm track at Moonee Valley

Lindsay Park trainer Ben Hayes has ‘total confidence’ in his Cox Plate contenders Mr Brightside and Evaporate despite concerns over a firm track for today’s $5 million feature at The Valley.

Lindsay Park trainer Ben Hayes has brushed off concerns about the firm track surface for his Cox Plate contenders Mr Brightside and Evaporate, saying he had total confidence in his charges’ ability to peak for the $5 million weight-for-age feature at The Valley today.

Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers JD and Will, are hoping to avenge Mr Brightside’s narrow defeat in last year’s Cox Plate, when he was touched off by Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior.

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The Moonee Valley track is already rated a Good (4) and with fine, sunny weather today, a hard surface is likely when the Cox Plate is run at 5.15pm.

The Hayes brothers kicked off Cox Plate Day with an upset victory in the first race as $12 chance Acromantula, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, raced away with the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap.

• THE LAST SAY: Tips, market movers for Cox Plate Day at The Valley, Spring Champion Stakes Day at Randwick

“This track has give in it, they get the foot in and that’s all he needs,” Hayes said. “His record on good tracks isn’t bad. If we had rain I’d be extra confident, now I’m really confident.”

Hayes said Mr Brightside – a $9.50 chance in Ladbrokes’ Cox Plate market, in which he’s been the subject of multiple $5000 wagers – was going into the race in better condition than he did in 2023.

“We’ve had a really good hard run at 2000m (Might And Power Stakes) … he’s never let us down.”

Hayes said Evaporate, undefeated in three starts at The Valley, would more than acquit himself in the Cox Plate.

“We’re not just putting him in the race for (cannon) fodder,” Hayes said.

• EXPERT TIPS: Mark Guest’s race-by-race tips, analysis and quaddie picks for Cox Plate Day

Champion jockey Craig Williams echoed Hayes, adamant Mr Brightside was ready to peak for a second straight year on Cox Plate Day – with hopefully a different result – as he called this year’s version “a race for the ages”.

Fresh from winning last week’s $20 million The Everest and Wednesday’s Geelong Cup, Williams believed last year’s Cox Plate runner-up was going as well as he was when second to Romantic Warrior.

Acromantula simply too fast for them in the opener on Cox Plate Day! 🔥@[e-mail]/Wew3S7o7WH

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 26, 2024

Asked if the good track was a concern for Mr Brightside, Williams: “He’ll be fine … he’s going really well. This could be a race for the ages.”

He said Japanese raider Prognosis was a fascinating runner, with his barrier manners at the start certain to be a big talking point.

Fan favourite Mr Brightside has been solidly backed with Ladbrokes throughout the week, including multiple $5000 wagers.

Mr Brightside is responsible for more than 20 per cent of all money wagered on the Cox Plate with the bookmaker.

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RACE 2: Bitter first-up result banished with Valley win

Bittercreek too strong late in the Red Anchor! @[e-mail]/GwZrkZwGFi

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 26, 2024

The Team Corstens-trained Bittercreek reproduced the form that saw him capture a Group 2 during Brisbane’s winter carnival to win the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.

The Snitzel colt was a $13 to $7.50 firmer first-up earlier this month at Flemington in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes but only battled when a 4.3-length seventh behind First Settler.

But jockey Ben Allen timed his run perfectly today as Bittercreek charged home out wide to hold off the fast-finishing Pisces (James McDonald) and Winnasedge (Luke Currie).

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RACE 3: Yulong filly continues Rise with Crockett win

"Certain Rise, a nice filly." ✅@YulongInvest have got another talented filly on their hands. 👏@BallymoreStablspic.twitter.com/HnKutHVEVm

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 26, 2024

They’ve grabbed three-year-old black type success with Growing Empire and First Settler this season and Certain Rise continued the trend for Yulong with a dominant victory in the Listed Crockett Stakes on Cox Plate Day at The Valley.

A $2.60 favourite with Ladbrokes, Blake Shinn took Certain Rise to the front from an outside gate and the Written Tycoon filly gave a good kick to score from Zoubaby (Michael Dee) and Supercilious (Ben Allen).

The victory was Certain Rise’s second in just three starts. She debuted with a runner-up finish in a Cranbourne maiden on September 19 before dominating a Mornington maiden by four lengths on October 10.

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RACE 4: Team Hayes Doubles up at The Valley

Double Market surges away with the Fillies Classic! @lindsayparkrace are on fire at The Valley with an early double! pic.twitter.com/4w3eFpGhx5

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 26, 2024

Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes notched their second victory on Cox Plate Day when Double Market held off all challengers to win the Group 2 Fillies Classic (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.

The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Cavity Bay (Mark Zahra, $5) hit the front as they turned for home but Michael Dee, aboard fellow $5 chance Double Market, was able to get off heels and wear down the leader to score.

In Her Eyes (Jye McNeil, $15) held off the $2.50 favourite, Polymnia (James McDonald), for third.

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Race 5: Future looks bright for Maher gelding

Future History dictates the JRA Cup! 💪

Ciaron Maher trains the first four! 🤯@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/TlXAJwkF1M

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 26, 2024

Star jockey Mark Zahra led his rivals a merry dance to win the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) aboard $3.20 favourite Future History.

The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding, who disappointed over the 2400m journey of the Group 1 Metropolitan at Randwick last time out, relished the step back in trip as Zahra dictated the pace up front.

Putting a gap on his rivals as they straightened, Future History never looked in danger as he held off stablemates Promises Kept (Declan Bates, $9.50) and Kettle Hill (Billy Egan, $17).

Originally published as 2024 Cox Plate Day Races 1-5 results: Team Hayes looks on Brightside with firm track at Moonee Valley