$3,000,000 G1 W.S. Cox Plate. 2040m.

1. SACRED FALLS. (9) Z. Purton. 59kg. 13-2.
Winner of $4.6m. Unlucky behind Fawkner when held up and ran on well for 4th beaten 2.5L. Before that, got home hard for big win Geoge Main in Syd. Trained by the guru Chris Waller. Does not possess the early speed to naturally take a nice sit from the 9 alley, so if he's to go forward he'll need to spend much needed fuel. Top class, but draw against him.

2. FAWKNER. (4) N. Hall. 59kg. 7-2.
$2.8m. Won Caulfield Cup 2400 last year. 4 time Mel Cup winner Lloyd Williams wants this race. He's won just about everything else. They think this might be it. Beaten half hd in Makybe Diva than had the run of the race last up when beat Criterion, Side Glance 2000m Caulfield Stks. Settled just off the pace and just got there. The 4 hole is a massive advantage. Will look a big chance throughout.

3. SIDE GLANCE. (7) J. Spencer. 59kg. 25-1.
$2.7m. Much travelled old timer from the famed Balding sheds. Jumped straight to the front and held on gamely Caul Stakes beaten 2L by Fawkner. Before that 3rd in the Arlington Millions. Has the services of a top hoop and this track will probably suit him. Should be on the pace throughout, but will he have ammo when they drop the hammer?

4. HAPPY TRAILS. (2) D. Oliver. 59kg. 11-1.
$2.1m Extremely unlucky in last runs. Held up in Turnbull behind Lucia Valentina, Then had to be eased when 5th beaten less than 3L behind Fawkner in Caul Stks. Second this race last year and will get a great trail from the two slot. Trainer said he's going as well as last year.

5. FORETELLER. (1) T. Berry. 59kg. 33-1.
$1.8m. Waller trained. Beat Happy Trails hlf hd 1800m Underwood when 4th in running. Got inside run to just get there. Then put in ordinary effort behind Fawkner Caul Stks. 4th this race last year. The alley will suit. Anything Waller saddles is a chance.

6. THE CLEANER. (14) S. Arnold. 59kg. 14-1.
$848,000. The fairy tale horse. Probably the most loved horse in the country. Likes to get to the front and run them off their feet. Began the year as a nobody, but stepped through the classes with great dash. First time in G1. Won G2 JRA Cup here last start. Loves the course winning 4 of 6 with 2 minor placings. Terrible draw, but natural pace might offset it. Sensational work during week when reeled off a final quarter in 21.5 seconds, stunning observers. Brought for peanuts and will bring down the house if he can fight them off.

7. GUEST OF HONOUR. (10) C. Williams. 59kg. 70-1.
$239,000. Botti trained. Won Ascot Summer Mile in July beating Mull Of Killough and Long John, then at only run here in the Toorak 1600m, settled near last and made steady ground to finish 9th beaten just over 3L. Has not won past 1750m. Might find these a bit to hot, but great trainer and rider. He's not here for the weather.

8. CRITERION. (6) J. McDonald 57.5 kg. 6-1.
$2.4m earned. Aust Derby winner 2400m Randwick last April. This time in has failed to win in 4 runs, the latest when 2nd to Fawkner. Beat home Side Glance and Sacred Falls. Flew home and ran 2nd fastest final section of the day. Before that, again second in Syd in 2000m Hill Stks. Is always about the money and a lot is expected in this race. Connections think he's as good as anything in the country.

9. SILENT ACHIEVER. (11) N. Rawiller. 57kg. 13-1.
$3.3m. Was racing in great heart earlier in the year winning 4 of 5, including the G1 BMW in the mud. Has struggled to find form this time in. Ran on solidly from well back when 9th beaten 5L behind Lucia Valentina in Turnbull. Before that 5th beaten 2L Underwood behind Foreteller. Ran on again. A great mare on her day, but seems to crying out for the longer trip.

10. ROYAL DESCENT. (3) G Boss. 57kg. 8-1.
$1.7m won. The 3rd Waller runner with a champ in the saddle. Gas run 2nd at her last 4 starts, the last 2 at G1. Looked to have Syd's 1600m Epsom shot to bits but just nailed on line. Before that again in Syd, beaten 1.3L in George Main by Sacred Falls. Super consistant mare who will run a bold race from good alley.

11. ADELAIDE. (13) R. Moore. 56kg. 7-1.
$815,000. Highest rated AOB 3yo colt in the stables. Won 2 of 5. Won G3 Airlie Stud as an odds on shot in 2012 then off scene until June this year when 2nd G2 King Edward beaten 3.3L by Top Eagle. Then taken to USA for 2nd G1 Belmont Derby. Then Won G1 Secretariat. Unlucky then in Prix Niel when 3rd behind Ectot. Been heavily supported in the last month. Will take all of Ryan Moore's talent to get a decent run from horror draw. Seems a class act.

12. ALMALAD. (8) C. Newitt. 49.5kg. 25-1.
$602,000. Waterhouse trained 3yo. Won 4 of 7 with a G1 win over the mile among them. Won G2 Stutt Stks here 2 runs back over same trip. Last run wasn't up to it in Caul Guineas. Had to work hard early and ran out of steam. Connections are keen on him and have paid a $130,000 late entrance fee to get him in. Has a postage stamp to carry, but win would surprise.

13. SWEYNESSE. (12) C. Schofield. 49.5kg. 15-1.
$322,000. Another 3yo. Winner of 4 from 5. Won two G3 races in Syd before beaten nearly 3L in Spring Champion Stks 2000m. Untested in Mel and has terrible gate. Tends to get back in his races and run on against own age, but this is a whole different kettle of fish. Only thing in his favour is the weight.

14. WANDJINA. (5) D. Yendall. 49.5kg. 25-1.
$161,000. Waterhouse second string. Only won one of nine. His best run to date was last up when 3rd G1 Caul Guineas beaten 1.3L. Charged home from well back, but this is a massive step up for the colt. Again, his only friend is his weight.


The Moonee Valley Course

 

Great post Cyc. Amazing amounts of money these horses win. But then again they are asked to race more than our 'champions' are and over a larger range of distances.

Not an AOB fan but I think Adelaide will run a big race

 

Yep Bustino, the cash comes from the TABs.

 

Two questions for our Australian correspondent;

1) How much of an influence is the draw, and...

2) Is this race still considered a pointer to the Melbourne Cup?

 

The alleys in the Cox Plate are vital Archer. Of course there is no hard fast rule, but the ideal is to have a gate of maybe 1 to 6, have good gate speed, and a good change of gears. This is one of the hardest races in Oz to win. They have been known to come from well back though, but you wouldn't to have your life hanging on it.

As for the Cup, no mate, it has next to no bearing on what happens on the first Tuesday in November. However there is a race on the same card called the Moonee Valley Cup to be run over the 2500m trip. It's a G2 race that has an automatic entry to the big race.

 

What time does this go off Cyc?

 

5:40 Eastern Daylight Saving Time Toppy. I'll let you do the conversion.

 

That would be 7.40 am Saturday morning for any British early birds catching the race

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=612908&r_date=2014-10-25#raceTabs=sc_

 

If the battler from the bush, The Cleaner can win, I think Tasmania will secede. They'll start proclaiming themselves the racing capital of the world. He probably won't run into the money, but I'll be cheering for the underdog. I really hope he runs a nice race, even if they do poleaxe him at the 400.

 

ROYAL DESCENT @12.5
Drawn beautifully in 3, has the cruising speed and every bit of evidence suggests will stay 10f. Sacred Falls is the danger but drawn 9 I'd be hoping that Royal Descent gets first run and uses the turn of foot to advantage around this tight course.

 

The draw didn't matter to Adelaide. He was too good for them.

 

Crikey, just watched it on ATR. What a run from Adelaide. As Oddy says "reminiscent of watching Arazi at the Breeders Cup". Exactly what I was thinking. When I saw him out the back (without knowing the result) my immediate thought was that if he wins from there it will be an Arazi replay. As he started picking them off it became more and more a reality. Amazing

 

A terrific performance from Ryan Moore and another excellent run by Adelaide, who keeps running well wherever he goes.

With his draw and position, there can be no argument that the best horse won and on a more conventonal track I think he would have won by a distance.

 

Holy mackerel! Thanks vm Oddy for clip. That was just unbelievable. Adelaide was so wide on the outside too. Got to watch this again, still cannot digest it. Ryan Moore is truly a great jockey, riding a very good racehorse too. The Cox Plate is one of the world's toughest Group 1's to win, that's a fact.

 

Big win, he had it won a fair way out. Imagine how Moore must have felt at the half mile? He stokes it up and swish. The horse now goes into Sydney trainer Chris Waller's hands. Coolmore's Aust. boss Michael Kirwan said the horse would probably be sent to the paddock and then set for the Autumn carnival. But no firm decision has been make about his immediate future. He still might have another run soon. There is also a chance that the horse may, according to Kirwan, return for a crack at Royal Ascot. AOB was not happy losing the horse. (Can't say that I blame him.) This Cox Plate gave the young Irish trainer his first Australian success. Tom Magnier is saying that Adelaide might go to stud in the Hunter Valley in NSW.

P.S. How often have we heard AOB hint at a particular horse being possibly the best he's had? Guess who's in the mix now?

 

Crikey that was some turn of foot to swing round the whole field What would he not have done with an easy passage through...