Big 4 analysis: Cox Plate, Moonee Valley Cup, Bondi, The Invitation
The Racenet team has analysed the big 4 races of the day on Saturday — the Cox Plate, Moonee Valley Cup, Bondi Stakes and The Invitation.
VIC Racing
Verry special mare set for Cox Plate glory
New Zealand breeder and part-owner Don Goodwin is living the dream with recently crowned Horse of the Year, Verry Elleegant.
Waller: Cox Plate ‘very even’ after stars stumble
Champion trainer Chris Waller believes the Cox Plate is a far more open contest after Verry Elleegant and Zaaki were beaten last start.
Weekend Best Bets: Wet track will suit Colette
Top mare Colette drops in class and the prospect of a rain-affected track will only enhance her chances at Caulfield.
Ballarat tips: Bet on Blaike
In-form jockey Blaike McDougall will be prominent in bookies’ minds with several of his mounts at Ballarat on Thursday.
Neasham column: The truth behind Zaaki’s ‘bandages’
Annabel Neasham has laughed away the talk about Zaaki’s shock defeat last start and those “bandages” he was wearing in her exclusive column.
Ryan can’t Pass up crack at Manikato
Trainer Nick Ryan couldn’t resist the opportunity to chase his maiden Group 1 win with Express Pass in the Manikato Stakes.
Tutukaka snares Classic, out to end Derby drought
Victoria Derby hope Tutukaka will get the chance to join his champion half-sister as a Group 1 winner after comfortably winning the Geelong Classic.
Tralee Rose looms as Cup contender after Geelong win
On the borderline for the Melbourne Cup, Tralee Rose has all-but secured her spot in the $8m staying feature after winning the Geelong Cup.
Legendary jockey Shane Dye weighs in on racing’s big issues
Shane Dye has strong opinions on the state of racing in Australia and shares them with Ben Dorries: from whips, Zaaki, Melbourne Cup internationals and the war between Victoria and NSW.
Prebble on hunt for grand slam in Cox Plate
Brett Prebble has already enjoyed an amazing spring carnival but it will get even better if he can win the Cox Plate and join an exclusive club.
Mallyon column: ‘Smart, stubborn’ Zaaki owes me a new phone
Katie Mallyon has ridden Zaaki many times at the beach – and on one occasion it cost her a mobile phone – and she sets the record straight on the Cox Plate favourite.
The Oracle’s runner-by-runner preview: Cox Plate
The Oracle has analysed the chances of every runner in the legendary $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Sneaky chance new star can emerge in Manikato
With just three Group 1 winners in the Manikato Stakes field, trainer Ciaron Maher is hoping a new star will announce itself at The Valley on Friday night.
Geelong Cup day tips: Tralee to run Wilde
The Symon Wilde-trained Tralee Rose looks perfectly suited in the Geelong Cup while a drop in class and distance will be ideal for a Sydney mare.
Zaaki draws ideally for Cox Plate after impressive gallop
Zaaki has firmed for the Cox Plate after the barrier draw, which came after an excellent gallop at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast with the Best.
Incentivise Cup penalty: ‘57kg is a very challenging weight’
Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter has handed Incentivise a 1.5kg penalty which will now see the Caulfield Cup winner carry 57kg in the Melbourne Cup.
‘Just disappointed’: Japanese import cut from Cox Plate field
Sydney trainer Matthew Smith was disappointed when the Moonee Valley Racing Committee dumped Japanese Group 1 winner Keiai Nautique from the Cox Plate.
2021 Cox Plate field and barrier draw
The $5m 2021 Cox Plate field has been finalised with the former Japanese galloper Keiai Nautique failing to get past the MVRC committee and only 10 runners will now face the starter on Saturday.
Lombardo out to complete rise in Manikato
Lombardo has emerged as a sprinting talent this season, enough to convince trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr to give him a crack at $1m in Friday night’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes.
Beware an Elleegant ambush in Cox Plate
Superstar mare Verry Elleegant could lay a Cox Plate ambush for the punters and bookies that have written off her chances in Saturday’s Cox Plate.
Bossy on one-way ticket to Melbourne
Flamboyant jockey Glen Boss has decided to make his latest stay in Melbourne permanent in his latest career move.
Diva delight: Last-start winner chases back-to-back success
On The Punt: Last start winner Arriva Diva looks a good bet at Mornington on Monday.
Incentivise set to bypass Cox Plate for Cup
The Toowoomba sensation Incentivise endured a tough run in the Caulfield Cup and is set to skip the Moonee Valley Cox Plate and head straight to the Melbourne Cup.
Star colt Anamoe cruising towards Cox Plate
The Godolphin camp are thrilled with Anamoe after the star three-year-old colt cruised around The Valley in preparation for Saturday’s $5m Group 1 W.S Cox Plate.
The focus on the spring ‘big 4’ has been cut to the ‘big 2’
After the events of the weekend we’ve lost The Everest and Caulfield Cup from the spring 4 focus and we’re now left, at least for this week, with just the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Weight expectations: Moody eyes Cups double
Peter Moody is keen to see what Melbourne Cup weight penalty his barnstorming Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise gets on Monday.
Gollan looks to forget Jonker ‘barrier trial’ in Manikato
The Kingsford-Smith Cup runner-up has had a tough time of it away from Queensland this preparation but his trainer is looking for a change of luck come Friday night.
Cox Plate shock as defending champ dies
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Sir Dragonet sustained a catastrophic injury during a gallop at The Valley and could not be saved.
Incentivise demolishes rivals in Caulfield Cup rampage
Incentivise produced one of the great Caulfield Cup wins of all time and the Melbourne Cup – and maybe the Cox Plate – now await.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/vic-racing/page/200