8/10/2011 edition

Moonee Valley Cox Plate Free Horse Racing Betting Tips

As our next edition of Punt to Win will be our Melbourne Cup Special we thought we'd get in a little early with our views about the Cox Plate.

The Cox Plate, run over 2040 metres, is a unique race in Australia; it is certainly our Weight for Age Championship.

Only great horses win the race, horses like champions Kingston Town and the great mare, Sunline.

For starters the field is pretty much hand picked by the Moonee Valley Racing Club Committee to ensure quality. Of course this doesn't eliminate controversy - about which horses are included or omitted.

The tight turning Moonee Valley racetrack, with a very short home straight, which we discuss below, also adds to the race's allure. It just wouldn't be the same if the race was run at Flemington, like some have suggested would be a good idea.

The Cox Plate is run unlike any other 2000 metres race held in this country.

If you have a horse that leads but needs to set a slowish pace to win, then forget about it. It won't be allowed to dictate the race that way. The only way it will be allowed to dictate the race is by leading and settting a fast pace.

It will also need a very big sprint, not just the last couple of hundred metres. Because in the Cox Plate you will often find the last 1000 metres is a sprint home. Amazing stuff! Jockeys can't save their save their horses for that one final burst, because if they do they will be so far back they will have no chance of winning.

Is the Cox Plate a good betting race?

It used to be. But not so much now. It will be a great spectacle but is generally not a race for major bets. The more unknowns in a race the poorer it can become as a betting race. When you are betting into markets well over 100% (120% on the tote) it is often difficult enough with just local horses competing. When you add to the equation the wildcards from overseas you usually end up with a poor betting race. The Melbourne Cup is even worse.

The Unique Moonee Valley Horse Racing Track

The horse racing track is rectangular in shape with a circumference of 1,805 metres. It is a tight turning track The home straight, only 173 metres, is by far the shortest of all metropolitan racecourses in Australia. Because of the exceptionally short home straight, the track often favours good leaders and on pace horses who kick away around the home turn opening up a winning break on the field.

This is never more true than when the rail is out five metres. It is not uncommon for one race after another to be won by the horse that is out fastest and leads all the way - just like the greyhounds!

Moonee Valley is very much a specialists' track. Horses drawn barrier one who get back in the field are often in trouble because of the short home straight.

Cox Plate Barrier Guide

2040 metres: This is where the Cox Plate starts at the top of the home straight. There is only 200 metres to the first turn. Wide barriers are usually a big disadvantage.

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This edition of Punt to Win:
Moonee Valley Cox Plate Day horse racing betting tips & odds
The Professional Punter's horse racing news
The Beat the Tipsters' Poll horse racing betting system
Horse racing form analysis and betting system tips
Horse Watch betting system - future winners
Free horse racing betting tips package membership!
Get those betting odds
Betting favourites in small fields: 1/10/2011 & 24/9/2011
Betting favourites in small fields: 17/9/2011 & 10/9/2011
Best odds for well bet winners - bookmaker or tote?
Betting top weights - horses carrying a weight handicap of 59kg.
Punt to Win 10/9/2011
Punt to Win index

2010 Melbourne Cup Day
Winners under $10.00
Best Bookmaker Win Odds
Best Tote Odds

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