i think you'll be able to add a favourite next week after the cox

In my opinion what this shows is how competitive the top level racing is in the country at the moment. In all honesty the horses winning arn't exactly bad horses, they have all shown some sort of form in Group 1 races at some time in their career before their wins this prep.

Danleigh - 2nd Galaxy, 1st All Aged Stakes, 5th Doomben 10000, 2nd Stradbroke
Heart Of Dreams - 1st Cadbury Guineas
Turffontein - 3rd Doomben 10000 (08), 3rd sir rupert Clarke, 2nd VRC Classic
Efficient - 1st Derby, 1st Melb Cup
Whobegotyou - No explanation required
Allez Wonder - 3rd oaks (imo this horse just needs a good track to be competitive at the top level)
Starspangledbanner - Only one G1 race before this and failed in that but should have been unbeaten this prep and the only question was would he get the distance)
Irish Lights - No explanation needed
Viewed - to many to talk of, the trainer is a master at setting horses for a big race....


It looks pretty ovious that getting so many good horses together any of them can win on their given days, if every horse could run up to it's best performance every run this game would be so much easier wouldn't it :)

Hi Horse Whisperer,

I agree it does show how competitive our Group 1 racing is.

In the Cox Plate this week all horses have won at Group 1 except Zipping and Rangirangdoo (both placed at Group 1) and So You Think which has yet to start at Group 1 (only 4 career starts). Therefore all horses have something going for them in our premier WFA race.

My thoughts about putting up this thread was to show, because it is so competitive, we should look past the obvious if we want to back some good priced winners. As I initially said when the favourites do salute there is very little "value" to be had.

Maybe the question should be, why bet these big races at all when they are just a Bookies benefit?

Sure, if your lucky on the odd day it can be a good earn, but a quick look at the outcomes from the comp. shows that the bookies are doing nicely thank you and the punters in the comp. are not covering their outlay, In fact most [including me] would be losing heaps if it was real money we were betting. Plenty of zero outcomes too.

I'm very wary of the big races [and any country Cups] and keep my bets interest only mostly. Lining up form is a nightmare and form reversals seem the order of the day.

Have to agree the Cups are lotteries.

Agree Viewed is a superior stayer and that Cummings a great trainer.

But 8 of 10 times Rawiller would not have got that run he got on Saturday from the back of the field.

Another Group 1 and another nice priced winner in So You Think.

Manikato Stakes (11) - Danleigh - $17.10
Underwood Stakes (16) - Heart Of Dreams - $11.00
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (16) - Turffontein - $11.70
Turnbull Stakes (15) - Efficient - $21.20
Yalumba Stakes 2000m WFA (8) - Whobegotyou - $1.90
Toorak Handicap 1600m Hcp (17) - Allez Wonder - $42.10
Caulfield Guineas 1600m 3yo SW (11) - Starspangledbanner - $12.60
Thousand Guineas 1600m 3yof SW (14) - Irish Lights - $3.10
Caulfield Cup 2400m (18) - Viewed - $12.40
Cox Plate 2040m (13) - So You Think - $9.50

Bring on Flemington!

Nope.

Sir Slick coming out killed any chance of a genuine pace in the Cox. Made it impossible for the favorites. Jog and sprint past bottom weights with 7-8kg less weight? Smart move by Cummings telling Boss to lead on his back-marker So You Think with 49.5kg. Bottom weights 1st. and 2nd!

Updating the first day of the Flemington carnival with only one real outsider (Headway) saluting.

Manikato Stakes (11) - Danleigh - $17.10
Underwood Stakes (16) - Heart Of Dreams - $11.00
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (16) - Turffontein - $11.70
Turnbull Stakes (15) - Efficient - $21.20
Yalumba Stakes 2000m WFA (8) - Whobegotyou - $1.90
Toorak Handicap 1600m Hcp (17) - Allez Wonder - $42.10
Caulfield Guineas 1600m 3yo SW (11) - Starspangledbanner - $12.60
Thousand Guineas 1600m 3yof SW (14) - Irish Lights - $3.10
Caulfield Cup 2400m (18) - Viewed - $12.40
Cox Plate 2040m (13) - So You Think - $9.50
Coolmore Stud Stakes 1200m 3yo SW (14) - Headway - $15.00
McKinnon Stakes 2000m WFA (11) - Scenic Shot - $7.10
Victorian Derby 2500m 3yo SW (10) - Monaco Consul - $4.60
Myer F&M Classic 1600m F&M (12) - Typhoon Tracy - $2.20

Wasn't it one of the fastest ever cox plates?