22/9/20 Moonee Valley Races: Cox Plate early predictions

Contested over 2040m at Moonee Valley, the Cox Plate is renowned as Australia's weight-for-age championship. 

The illustrious Group One scalp with it's $5 million purse attracts the best Australian middle distance and staying talent and in recent years, international raiders from across the globe. 

With just over four weeks until the time honoured clash, we talk to David Gately and Michael Gannon to get their early predictions for the race. 

Cox Plate: Horses to follow  

Gator says...

ARCADIA QUEEN

There is no doubt based on her Kingstown Town Classic win last December that she is an absolute star. The times she ran that day were phenomenal.

Last prep she returned in good fashion, then followed up with two forgive runs in the Everest and the Golden Eagle.

Her effort fresh in the Group 2 PB Lawrence was a pass mark on a Soft Caulfield track in a slowly run race. 

Staying at 1400m second-up in the Let's Elope, she returned to form on a Good 4 and looks back on track. She charged home for second late in that clash, recording a 33.08 / 11.20 last 600m / 200m.

She's building towards this nicely. 

VERRY ELLEEGANT

Currently, she is the best athlete and number one seed given this is weight-for-age.

I get the feeling from what I saw in the Winx Stakes that they may target this race now, before heading into a Melbourne Cup.

The other thing that the first-up 1400m win tells us, is that she is brilliant enough to win a Cox Plate.

In the George Main Stakes on Saturday, she had enough tempo in the race but simply lacked that dash we saw a fortnight earlier. Perhaps that tough first-up run saw her a bit 'flat' and the bone-dry track could have gone against her also.

Either way, she ran well and her 11.92 home was the second fastest of the race which indicates she was warming-up nicely late.

SUPERSTORM

My smoky.

He has a big Group One in him this prep. I imagine the Golden Eagle is on their radar with the $7.5 million lure, as he is only a four-year-old once. However, that race is 1500m.

We saw him run off his feet over 1600m in a very fast All-Star Mile then zoom home.

His fresh run finishing 1.85 lengths 9th in The Heath was great and then he followed that up with an unlucky 3.2 length 12th in the Sir Rupert Clarke on Saturday.

He looked to be building momentum in that race beautifully and actually ran up alongside the winner at the 250m mark, before his luck run out. He was 5th fasted home (11.8) without being tested.

For mine, the 2040m in October is right up his alley!

Gannon says...

FIERCE IMPACT

He was great winning the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes second-up and looks set for a tilt at the Caulfield Stakes on October 10th. 

The 2040m is right at the end of his distance range, but I think he'll handle it. 

Considering we could be without the influx of foreign talent this year, this could be the best opportunity for a horse like Fierce Impact to claim the coveted honour.

HUNGRY HEART

Holds a nomination and looks like she could run all day.

She's been a little dour in her two runs back and it wouldn't surprise me if Waller has her set for the Cox Plate.

Time will tell, but if she wins the Spring Champion Stakes don't be surprised to see her line up and be competitive in the Cox Plate.

2020 Cox Plate All-In market (Snapshot)