Does Australian racing get any better than Cox Plate Day? I don’t think so.
It is incredible to think that we are already this far through the Spring Racing Carnival and in less than two weeks, we’ll know who the Melbourne Cup winner is.
Still plenty of water to go under the bridge between now and then though, and you can find a full preview and my 2020 Cox Plate Day tips below!
Ancestry has been outstanding this preparation, and he can record another win in the first on Cox Plate Day.
The four-year-old son of The Brothers War has recorded six wins and a minor from only eleven career starts so far, but has been particularly impressive at his first two this time in.
Fitter third-up, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
A capacity field of two-year-olds will contes the Inglis Banner and of those runners, just three have race day experience.
I’m confident that something decent will come out of this race, but an awful lot could happen, and I am happy to sit back a watch, with a view towards something later in the season.
Cox Plate Day’s first black type contest has drawn a decent field of three-year-olds, and there is a case to be made for a few of them.
That being said, Bella Nipotina really doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and she can return to winning form.
Bella Nipotina was a strong and consistent performer during her two-year-old season and incredibly didn’t break her maiden, despite placing in some really good races.
She did break her maiden first-up this time however, and in black type company (Group 3 Quezette Stakes).
She didn’t measure up in open company in the Group 1 Moir Stakes, but returned a competitive effort to fill the minors behind Swats That in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes a fortnight ago, and there is no horse of that quality in this race.
South Australian Ecumenical has continued to improve with racing this preparation, and the Moonee Valley Fillies Classic looks a very winnable one for her.
The daughter of Zebedee stamped herself as a filly to follow during an impressive two-year-old season, winning three of five starts including both the Dequetteville Stakes and the Breeders Stakes at Morphettville.
She needed the run when she finished down the order over 1100m first-up, but was just a length and a half from the winner in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, and finished fourth in the Thousand Guineas a fortnight ago.
She is at peak fitness for this contest, clearly relishes a mile, and she should be given every chance to win this race.
She has been charged with carrying 60kgs, but Greysful Glamour is as tough as they come, and I think she’ll take beating in this Group 3 mile.
The Stratum mare has been a notable performer throughout her entire race career, and resumed this time for a credible fourth behind the likes of Dreamforce and Kolding in the Tramway Stakes.
She failed to fire in the Stocks Stakes, but was only just pipped by Emeralds in a photo finish to the Group 3 Angst Stakes in Sydney, last time out.
She is another horse that looks to be at peak fitness for this race and she might not be offered a better opportunity to win in black type company.
This race always throws forward a genuine Derby or Oaks contender, and nine three-year-olds will step out this year.
Young Werther was a particularly sick watch when he was held up and still only just missed at Caulfield a fortnight ago, and he looks to be the one to beat here.
The Tavistock gelding put the writing on the wall with an easy win on debut at Geelong, and he really was a good thing licked in the Listed Super Impose last time.
With the improvement from that effort, getting further out in trip and from the good draw, he is my best bet on the program.
The Crystal Mile shapes as one of the better contests on this year’s Cox Plate Day card, and Kings Will Dream looks a winning chance at around the $5 mark.
The Group 1 winner returned to the races with an eye-catching performance to finish third in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes, but it’s fair to say that we haven’t seen his best in either of the Makybe Diva Stakes or the Turnbull since.
I think that the drop back to a mile at The Valley will prove ideal, likewise the drop in class, I think that it will prove to be a great race for him.
A genuine Melbourne Cup runner or two generally comes out of the Moonee Valley Cup and that is likely to be the case again this year.
Sound was scratched from the Geelong Cup midweek to run here, and I think he’ll take plenty of beating.
Sound tuned up this time with a decent effort to finish fifth behind the likes of Think We’re Due at Caulfield first-up, and he has since finished second over 2040m here and in The Bart Cummings.
He’ll eat up the trip, he’s weighted well, and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
The Cox Plate is Australia’s premiere weight-for-age contest and a fittingly outstanding field of locals and international raiders will seek their share in a cool $5 million.
I am all about the Aidan O’Brien-trained Amory in 2020 Cox Plate betting, but you can find a full race preview and my complete 2020 Cox Plate tips RIGHT HERE.
Maha has improved for two starts this time and is ready to win on Cox Plate Day.
The Team McEvoy-trained filly clearly needed the run when she failed to let down at Flemington when resuming, but she was far more impressive when second behind September Run in the Listed Poseidon Stakes last time out, despite not being wanted in the market.
If she continues on the same trajectory, I really can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.