Cox Plate draw (and opinion)
October 21st 2008 06:06
The draw for the MVRC WS Cox Plate took place this morning, for the first time under the implementation of the ‘Kentucky Derby’ format with Chief Steward Terry Baily drawing the name of a horse - then the connections choosing their barrier of preference.
The first surprise was jockey Nash Rawiller choosing the outside barrier (12) for Theseo when given his opportunity to select a gate. At this time nearly half of the barriers were still available, with gates: 1,8,10,11 and 12 still to be selected.
Rawiller indicated that In discussions with owners and trainer Gai Waterhouse it had been decided to take the widest gate still available - in theory they may have even emulated Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby in selecting the outside gate when all options were still available.
Theseo will be an outsider even after impressing with his last start Epsom victory.
"They were my riding instructions. The horse has won the Epsom from 18, he won the Magic Millions Cup from the outside, barrier 12. He goes in last, flies the lids and we’ll be going forward. I’d say we’ll either lead or be sitting outside the leader.” - Nash Rawiller, explaining the decision.
The other surprise was the reluctance of many to choose gate number one. It was eventually selected by Dwayne Dunn for Zarita after nine previous stables elected to look wider than the rails berth.
Mick Price had second choice and elected barrier seven for Alamosa - the most successful barrier in Cox Plate history. Price had been reluctant to run this classy New Zealand miler in the Cox Plate until quite recently when the likes of Weekend Hussler and (his own first stable preference) Light Fantastic both failed to make it this far through the Spring. Both horses were expected to be crowd and punting favourites on Cox Plate day - but both horses (to varying degrees) failed to stay.
This is definitely not the best assembled field in a Cox Plate that I have assessed. The favourite Princess Coup has been aimed at this race and is flying this campaign - but she still only has one success in a race in Australia.
Samantha Miss has impressed in winning in fillies grade in Sydney - often putting up spectacular performances to win. But the quality and depth of those races is in question.
I wonder now if Aidan O’Brien is regretting not setting this race as a priority and target as he draws (now snails pace slowly) to the record of Group One wins in a season. There are still a few opportunities for him in the US - and he still holds a trump card in the Melbourne Cup. But rather than race Henrythenavigator on a synthetic track at Santa Anita - taking on the champion Curlin with numbers and both the Duke and Henry - he would have been better advised to be at Moonee Valley and let Henry navigate him closer to history.
It is a very even Cox Plate field and will attract interest and differing opinions. But it lacks a Northerly. It lacks a Might And Power. It lacks a Sunline (a Kingston Town a Makybe Diva a Saintly a Super Impose a Strawberry Road a Dulcify a Phar Lap). It lacks a horse of substance and gravitas. Given the international prominence of the Cox Plate it is a disappointing final field.
A winning performance from the 3 year old filly Samantha Miss is the only outcome that could redeem the race this year.
The international trainers are becoming more prominent and successful every Melbourne Spring. But this is one race they let slip. It was there for the taking.
$3 million TATTS COX PLATE (2040 METRES)
3YO and Upwards. Standard WFA. GROUP 1
No Allowances for apprentices.
1 Sirmione (Bart Cummings) D Oliver 8 59.0
2 Maldivian (NZ) (Mark Kavanagh) M Rodd 6 59.0
3 Zipping (John Sadler) D Nikolic 5 59.0
4 Theseo (Gai Waterhouse) N Rawiller 12 59.0
5 Master O'Reilly (NZ) (Danny O'Brien) V Duric 11 59.0
6 Raheeb (Anthony Cummings) B Shinn 10 59.0
7 Alamosa (NZ) (Mick Price) C Newitt 7 57.5
8 C'est La Guerre (NZ) (John Sadler) S W Arnold 3 57.5
9 Princess Coup (Mark Walker) O P Bosson 9 57.0
10 Gallant Tess (David Payne) C Brown 4 57.0
11 Zarita (NZ) (Pat Hyland) D Dunn 1 55.5
12 Samantha Miss (Kris Lees) G Boss 2 47.5
Photo finish of Princess Coup winning Kelt Capital Stakes
The first surprise was jockey Nash Rawiller choosing the outside barrier (12) for Theseo when given his opportunity to select a gate. At this time nearly half of the barriers were still available, with gates: 1,8,10,11 and 12 still to be selected.
Rawiller indicated that In discussions with owners and trainer Gai Waterhouse it had been decided to take the widest gate still available - in theory they may have even emulated Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby in selecting the outside gate when all options were still available.
Theseo will be an outsider even after impressing with his last start Epsom victory.
"They were my riding instructions. The horse has won the Epsom from 18, he won the Magic Millions Cup from the outside, barrier 12. He goes in last, flies the lids and we’ll be going forward. I’d say we’ll either lead or be sitting outside the leader.” - Nash Rawiller, explaining the decision.
The other surprise was the reluctance of many to choose gate number one. It was eventually selected by Dwayne Dunn for Zarita after nine previous stables elected to look wider than the rails berth.
Mick Price had second choice and elected barrier seven for Alamosa - the most successful barrier in Cox Plate history. Price had been reluctant to run this classy New Zealand miler in the Cox Plate until quite recently when the likes of Weekend Hussler and (his own first stable preference) Light Fantastic both failed to make it this far through the Spring. Both horses were expected to be crowd and punting favourites on Cox Plate day - but both horses (to varying degrees) failed to stay.
This is definitely not the best assembled field in a Cox Plate that I have assessed. The favourite Princess Coup has been aimed at this race and is flying this campaign - but she still only has one success in a race in Australia.
Samantha Miss has impressed in winning in fillies grade in Sydney - often putting up spectacular performances to win. But the quality and depth of those races is in question.
I wonder now if Aidan O’Brien is regretting not setting this race as a priority and target as he draws (now snails pace slowly) to the record of Group One wins in a season. There are still a few opportunities for him in the US - and he still holds a trump card in the Melbourne Cup. But rather than race Henrythenavigator on a synthetic track at Santa Anita - taking on the champion Curlin with numbers and both the Duke and Henry - he would have been better advised to be at Moonee Valley and let Henry navigate him closer to history.
It is a very even Cox Plate field and will attract interest and differing opinions. But it lacks a Northerly. It lacks a Might And Power. It lacks a Sunline (a Kingston Town a Makybe Diva a Saintly a Super Impose a Strawberry Road a Dulcify a Phar Lap). It lacks a horse of substance and gravitas. Given the international prominence of the Cox Plate it is a disappointing final field.
A winning performance from the 3 year old filly Samantha Miss is the only outcome that could redeem the race this year.
The international trainers are becoming more prominent and successful every Melbourne Spring. But this is one race they let slip. It was there for the taking.
$3 million TATTS COX PLATE (2040 METRES)
3YO and Upwards. Standard WFA. GROUP 1
No Allowances for apprentices.
1 Sirmione (Bart Cummings) D Oliver 8 59.0
2 Maldivian (NZ) (Mark Kavanagh) M Rodd 6 59.0
3 Zipping (John Sadler) D Nikolic 5 59.0
4 Theseo (Gai Waterhouse) N Rawiller 12 59.0
5 Master O'Reilly (NZ) (Danny O'Brien) V Duric 11 59.0
6 Raheeb (Anthony Cummings) B Shinn 10 59.0
7 Alamosa (NZ) (Mick Price) C Newitt 7 57.5
8 C'est La Guerre (NZ) (John Sadler) S W Arnold 3 57.5
9 Princess Coup (Mark Walker) O P Bosson 9 57.0
10 Gallant Tess (David Payne) C Brown 4 57.0
11 Zarita (NZ) (Pat Hyland) D Dunn 1 55.5
12 Samantha Miss (Kris Lees) G Boss 2 47.5
| 41 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
