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The 2014 Cox Plate (Group 1, weight-for-age, 2040m) is one of Australia’s greatest races and the latest instalment is set to run at 5:40pm. Join The Roar for live coverage, tips and post-race analysis.
The rail has been shifted to the three metre position and with fifteen races run in the twenty-four hours prior to this race, expect the track to be playing fairly.
Speed comes from the obvious in of the Tasmanian champ, The Cleaner. He should find the front with relative ease, providing one of the three-year-olds doesn’t pull a ‘So You Think’. I would expect Side Glance to settle handy along with Almalad, but The Cleaner is sure to drag them out of their comfort zone at the 800m when Steven Arnold clicks him up.
History says the Caulfield Stakes is the best lead up, which was taken out by Fawkner this year. He was ridden more prominently than usual, but was still tough enough to win. He should improve further from that run, has drawn beautifully and is a terrific chance to break Lloyd’s Cox Plate duck.
Criterion produced his best performance this preparation when running second behind Fawkner. He will be stalking Fawkner in the run and doesn’t have a decent turn of foot. Side Glance battled on well when leading and forget his run last year when he missed the kick and never settled.
Of the others, Sacred Falls sat last at Caulfield and ran on well against the pattern. If he reproduces his Queen Elizabeth run (tough second off a heavy track Doncaster win the week prior), he’s the one to beat. Happy Trails and Foreteller were only fair, but filled the placings behind Shamus Award last year and cannot be dismissed.
Royal Descent has been super consistent this preparation. Four seconds from four starts suggests she is a non-winner, but she has been very brave and showers during the day will really boost her chances.
The other mare is Silent Achiever, who just hasn’t produced her best form in Melbourne for a few years. Nash Rawiller jumping on is a positive and her Queen Elizabeth run was admirable. Adelaide brings an international flavour to the race (the irony!) and Aiden O’Brien is an elite trainer. The weight and barrier don’t help, but still must be considered.
There is no standout among the three-year-olds with Almalad folding up quickly in the Guineas and Wandjina never threatening the winners all preparation. Sweynesse is untapped, but may be a preparation away.
Then there’s the story of the carnival. The Cleaner was beaten in a Winter Championships final and now lines up in a Cox Plate. You just have to admire the ticker of the seven-year-old, who is flying. He makes his own luck and runs time. If he corners in front, expect Moonee Valley to explode like never before.
The Cleaner really makes this an intriguing race. If he leads unchallenged, you don’t want to be the one dragging the field up to him, but you also don’t want to settle too far back. That will leave the toughest horses left to fight it out, so I’m sticking with the old boys and cheering like mad for the Longford Lion.
1. Side Glance
2. Fawkner
3. Sacred Falls
4. Criterion
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