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2014 Cox Plate: Preview and tips

21st October, 2014
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Fawkner won the 2013 Caulfield Cup. Will he salute in the Cox Plate in 2014? (Image: AAP)
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21st October, 2014
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The Cox Plate is arguably Australia’s ultimate middle distance race, attracting an exciting field of both foreign and local talent.

Because it is a weight-for-age event, the Cox Plate also generally attracts some young talent, and this year is no different as four of the fourteen runners will be three-year-olds.

Last year three-year-old colt Shamus Award shocked everyone, bolting ahead at the turn to win.

The all important barrier draw was held on Tuesday morning, and it has seen a bit of movement in the markets. Early favourite Fawkner drew perfectly in barrier four and came in even furthers in the betting. Fawkner was installed as the Cox Plate favourite after winning the Caulfield Stakes last start over 2000 metres in impressive fashion. He should now be hitting peak fitness and will be really hard to beat with the kind barrier.

One of Fawkner’s main threats is Kiwi-born Sacred Falls, who now resides in the Chris Waller stables in Sydney. He has looked in terrific form once again this preparation, winning the Group 1 George Main Stakes over 1600 metres in Sydney before coming down to Melbourne to run a very fast-finishing fourth behind Fawkner last start. He has drawn barrier nine and has the talented Zac Purton on board.

On the next line of betting is a very interesting three-year-old from the UK out of the Aidan O’Brien stable, Adelaide. Adelaide has never missed the placing from his seven-start career and has three wins to his name, one of which was a Group 1. He has drawn awkwardly in barrier 13 and looks to be unders in the market, but his form is extremely hard to gauge. O’Brien would not have brought him over unless he was confident.

Another of the young brigade right in the market is David Payne’s talented four-year-old Criterion. He was excellent last-start when he flew home for second behind Fawkner. He looks to be hitting peak fitness now and meets Fawkners half a kilogram better in the weights. Jumping from barrier six will be perfect and it is hard to make a case against him. Looks overs in the market and jockey Hugh Bowman obviously agrees, as he has turned down the ride on Royal Descent to ride Criterion.

One man’s loss is another man’s gain as Glen Boss was extremely happy to pick up the ride on Royal Descent after Hugh turned it down. The five-year-old mare out of Chris Waller’s stable has been in excellent form in Sydney, running four seconds this preparation and all in very competitive races. She now steps out to preferable distance and has drawn ideally in barrier three. She hasn’t one won for over twelve months but her form is good enough to put her right in this race.

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Happy Trials, the seven-year-old gelding out of Paul Beshara’s stable, has looked in good touch this preparation and he returns to the race where he finished second last year. Damien Oliver’s riding tactics will be interesting out of barrier two as Happy Trials normally races cold. If he pushes in behind the speed and rides for a bit of luck cornering then it could open up for him to display his turn of foot.

Foreteller, another seven-year-old gelding, may like to employ similar tactics. Foreteller is Chris Waller’s third runner and has drawn barrier one, so if Tommy Berry elects to push him forward from the inside barrier we could see him run a race like he did in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield two starts back where he won in impressive fashion.

The last runner I will touch on is six-year-old Silent Achiever. The Kiwi mare was a world beater in Autumn, winning four of five starts, three of which were Group 1s. We are yet to see this form in Spring but she gets winning jockey Nash Rawiller back on board and should be hitting peak fitness. Drawing barrier 11 is not ideal and her only chance is to push forward and try to get close to the speed she was racing in Autumn. If she gets out of the barriers quickly she could come into play.

Let’s hope that the forecast rain for Thursday is not too heavy as the race meet on Friday at the Valley would destroy the track if it’s wet.

In a close finish I have Sacred Falls on top of Fawkner, Criterion and Foreteller.

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