The 2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate is finally here!
We are set for a fascinating edition of the Cox Plate and that is the obvious highlight, but there is a huge amount of quality spread right across the card.
We have analysed every single race and our Cox Plate Day tips can be found below.
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Race 1 – 12:15pm – Inglis Banner (1000m)
The Inglis Banner is always a very tricky race from a betting perspective and the majority of the field will be making their racing debuts.
It is impossible to bet in this race with any real confidence and the best bet is to follow the market moves.
Race 2 – 12:50pm – Ladbrokes Handicap (1000m)
The Ladbrokes Handicap is one of the toughest races of the day and you can make a case for a number of different runners.
Dexelation appeals at his current quote of $7.
He returned to the races with a good win over 1000 metres at Morphettville in Adelaide and he has run well second-up in the past.
The wide barrier draw means that he will settle in the second half of the field, but there should be good early tempo in this contest and he will have the opportunity to run on late.
He has won at The Valley in the past and it would surprise if he isn’t in the mix.
Race 3 – 1:25pm – Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m)
New York Baby chased home Sneaky Five in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield and she is well-placed to go one better in the Crockett Stakes.
She got a long way back in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes, but there isn’t a huge amount of tempo in this contest and Damien Oliver should be able to settle her closer to the speed from barrier five.
The Written Tycoon filly has recorded two wins from her three race starts and she still looks to have plenty of upside to improve.
Race 4 – 2:00pm – Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m)
Generation can make a winning return to the races in the Red Anchor Stakes.
He wasn’t disgraced when he finished third behind Ingratiating and General Beau in the Vain Stakes before he had no luck in running when he finished third at The Valley last start.
This race really isn’t that much tougher and he is one of the only leading chances in the Red Anchor Stakes that is a proven performer over 1200 metres.
Jye McNeil can settle Generation behind Dosh in the early stages of this contest and he will have every possible chance to finish over the top of his rival.
Race 5 – 2:35pm – Group 2 Fillies Classic (1600m)
Heresy has had no luck whatsoever this preparation and I am keen to give her another opportunity in the Fillies Classic.
She has gone close without winning in the Quezette Stakes, McNeil Stakes and the Thousand Guineas Prelude before she had no shot at them in the Thousand Guineas.
This is not the strongest race and on exposed form she does have a genuine class edge over the rest of this field.
She may never have a better chance to return to winning form.
Race 6 – 3:10pm – Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m)
Buffalo River is on the quick back-up after his win in the Moonga Stakes last weekend and he can make it two wins on the trot in the Crystal Mile.
Buffalo River generally produces his best form when he is able to get a fair easy time of it in front and he looks likely to get that in the Crystal Mile.
He has never raced at The Valley before, but this does seem like a track that would suit him and he could simply prove too speedy for his rivals over 1600 metres.
Race 7 – 3:45pm – Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m)
Forgot You is deserving of his status as a dominant favourite in Moonee Valley Vase betting.
He showed an outstanding turn-of-foot to score back-to-back wins at The Valley, including the Stutt Stakes, and he went on to finish a more than credible sixth in the Caulfield Guineas.
The Savabeel colt has always looked as though he would produce his best form at 2000 metres and on exposed form he has an enormous class edge over the rest of this field.
It would not surprise to see him start this race as an extremely short-priced favourites.
Race 8 – 4:25pm – Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m)
The market suggests that the Moonee Valley Gold Cup is a race in two between Floating Artist and Pondus and that does look to be the case.
Floating Artist was beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Coongy Cup at Caulfield last Wednesday, but he did have genuine excuses.
Teo Nugent went too slow on him in the middle stages of the race, which left him vulnerable at the top of the straight.
I don’t think that he will repeat that mistake in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and he can roll along to turn this into a genuine staying contest.
He is the only stayer in this field that has any real upside and he is well-placed to return to winning form.
Race 9 – 5:10pm – Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m)
I think that this is a more open edition of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate than the market suggests and I am keen to back a number of runners.
I simply can’t get Zaaki and Verry Elleegant as short as their current quotes after their last start flops and that means there is plenty of value to be found around them.
Anamoe is the horse to beat.
He stamped himself as a potential star with his win in the Sires’ Produce Stakes during the Autumn and he has been able to replicate that form as a three-year-old.
His victory in the Caulfield Guineas was that of a very classy horse and he gives the impression that 2040 metres won’t be an issue.
Craig Williams can ride him in a similar manner to how he did Castelvecchio in the 2019 Cox Plate and that will make Anamoe very tough to beat.
Captivant is another three-year-old that is right in the mix.
He relished the step-up to a mile in the Caulfield Guineas and he has always looked as though he would get a strong 2040 metres.
Dean Yendall can ride him aggressively from barrier one and he is great value at his current quote of $19.
Mo’unga might be the forgotten horse in the Cox Plate field and he also appeals at double-figure odds.
His first-up victory in the Winx Stakes was excellent and he has gotten closer to Incentivise than any other horse this campaign.
His Epsom Handicap run suggests that he is looking for 2040 metres and he maps to get a dream run with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
The horse that can add value to exotics is Dalasan.
He isn’t the most consistent horse in the world, but he is capable of a high-rating effort on his day and the $67 currently available is a huge price.
His run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn was enormous and he was arguably the run of the race in the Epsom Handicap.
He would need things to go his way to win, but it would not surprise to see him finish in the placings.
Race 10 – 5:50pm – Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m)
Starelle doesn’t win out of turn, but this looks like a nice race for the More Than Ready mare.
She had no luck first-up behind Annavisto at Caulfield and she found the line nicely in the Ladies’ Day Vase.
Craig Williams should be able to settle her closer to the speed than she was last start and she will have every possible chance in the run.
She should be right in the finish in what is a very open race.