Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley is always a spoil of betting opportunity for punters.
Whilst the main event lacks Winx this year, the full fields, wide markets and keen interest from punters should see greater turnover than previous years.
The Cox Plate is well supported by a number of stakes races, with punters again forced to line-up the recent form in both Sydney and Melbourne.
A classy Sydney three-year-old looks to have a stranglehold on the Vase, and appears the best bet of the day to my eye.
The speed looks slow here, in a race that is likely to develop into a sprint home.
Expect Battenburg (2) to use the good draw to punch up and lead or sit outside the front runner.
He was good running 3 of 11 in the Spring Champion Stakes behind two very smart ones in Shadow Hero and Castelvecchio. His class should prevail.
With only a slow tempo, Moonlight Maid (7) can roll forward to midfield in the running line. She just needs to be in touch with the leaders at the 600m in order to sprint with them.
Soul Patch (9) comes out of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, where he was unsuited by the wide draw and race tempo. He drops down in class and can improve dramatically here. Expect them to race close-to-speed from the outside draw.
Best of the rest is Serious Liaison (1), who has blinkers applied for the first time and should race handy from the inside draw. Senior rider Damien Oliver sticks.
1st Battenburg
2nd Moonlight Maid
3rd Soul Patch
4th Serious Liaison
Check out our preview of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup here, which includes market moves, track analysis, key runner comments and tips.
There is plenty of speed engaged here and you can expect fireworks at the start as a number of runners challenge for the lead.
Dreamforce (4) is likely to win the early speed battle, with Rox The Castle (12) to carve across and sit outside. The former brings strong Sydney form, where he placed in the George Main Stakes before disappointing in the Epsom Handicap after he was expected to run well.
Gailo Chop (8) is dripping in quality and will appreciate finding this weaker race. He will race up in the firing line and has proven before that he is very tough late. Looks suited.
There was an interesting move late in betting for Pacodali (7) first-up at Caulfield and if they came again for him late, it may pay to follow. He must be showing plenty at home.
Chief Ironside (6) had no luck last start in the Toorak Handicap when he was held up at a crucial stage. You can completely forget he went around and given more luck here, he can win.
1st Dreamforce
2nd Pacodali
3rd Chief Ironside
4th Gailo Chop
Read everything you need to know about the Cox Plate here, including analysis on all of the key runners as well as our top selections.
The stakes grade mares battle it out here in the last, where only a moderate tempo looks likely.
Amangiri (5) gets control early and will look to rack and stack them. If the pattern is on-speed earlier in the day, expect her to start much shorter.
Music Bay can race handy and should carve across to sit just in behind or outside the lead. She has a touch of class and profiles well third-up (3:1-0-0).
One that can be close in the run is Snogging (2), who draws well and has the services of Mooney Valley specialist Brett Prebble. Expect her to be well supported late in betting.
Scarlet Dream drops right down in distance from the gruelling 2400m of the Metropolitan and she will be the strongest here late. Just needs a touch of tempo to get home hard.
1st Amangiri
2nd Snogging
3rd Music Bay
4th Scarlet Dream
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